Brasília, November 18 – The Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) held the Informative Virtual Meeting of the Amazon Integrated Fire Management Network (RAMIF) on November 14. This meeting marked the first step toward organizing the First Regional Workshop of the Technical Working Group (GTT), scheduled to take place from December 10 to 12, 2024, in Brasília, Brazil.
The virtual meeting, which brought together member country representatives and experts on the topic, aimed to establish the agenda and methodology for the upcoming in-person workshop. The workshop will focus on discussing key activities of the RAMIF Biennial Work Plan. The main actions to be implemented include:
1. Operational Protocol for Regional Cooperation: Developing a framework to enable immediate responses to wildfires in the Amazon region.
2. Training in Integrated Fire Management: Creating educational programs that include basic and specialized courses, along with experience-sharing initiatives.
3. Best Practices in Fire Management: Identifying and disseminating technical and traditional knowledge for regional application.
4. Regional Communication Strategy: Designing a plan to promote responsible behaviors and social change in fire management.
During the session, member countries shared information about wildfires in 2024, as well as their main challenges and immediate needs. Discussions also focused on tasks necessary to ensure effective preparation for the in-person workshop, and the GTT members were formally convened.
Established in December 2023, RAMIF is a regional cooperation initiative promoted by ACTO to strengthen integrated fire management capacities in the Amazon region. This effort is part of the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Integrated Fire Management (MOU-MIF), officially approved in 2023, and Declaration of Belém, which seeks to preserve the Amazon biome against deforestation and wildfires.
The December in-person workshop will serve as a crucial platform to advance the goals of RAMIF’s Biennial Work Plan, fostering cooperation among Amazonian countries and developing effective solutions for wildfire prevention and management.
