Platform Home

Welcome to the EC Forest Platform - an initiative that links peoples in the South and the European Community on aid and forest issues

Iola Leal Riesco
"Please send me information about your activities that you want to publicise to other Platform members. I hope you will take this opportunity to make Platform a 'live' debate on EC aid and forest issues."
Co-ordinator of the EC Forest Platform.


Belmond Tchoumba
"Thanks to the EC Forest Platform we will be able to monitor the impact of the EC aid policy on forests and forest people in Cameroon."
Centre pour l'Environnement et le Développement au Cameroun.

Welcome to Platform Views - the section of EC Forest Platform that allows you to exchange your views on relevant issues.

If you would like to submit your news and views to Platform Views please contact : iola@fern.org

Forest fires – a major issue
Spartaindia talks about the scale of the problem of forest fires in India

Among other factors relating to community and forestry, forest fire is a significant issue in developing countries. Our preliminary research and fieldwork suggest that the economic loss due to forest fire is more than the money spent on reforestation. Then how can the forest department reach the minimum forest cover?Forest fire could be more serious problem in developing countries as compared to illegal felling. Communities and forest guards have only twigs and brooms to fight the menace of forest fire in the hot months from February to July in India. Massive education and awareness using traditional media and adult education, drills, community gatherings are necessary to combat forest fires in developing countries. In India forest fire is not even recognised as a "hazard" and the measures to control forest fire are ad hoc, haphazard and insignificant.

Community participation with decision making power is essential for fighting the forest fire and to save the forest and valuable natural resources.

We are conducting one week training on "Management of Forest Fire" for forest officers, forest guards and NGO's. We would like to take up such training and awareness and motivation programmes in other developing countries. For more information sharing on critical issues in Forest Fire Management , contact spartaindia@yahoo.com