Wildfire Prevention

Wildfire prevention.

Our community-led approach to forest habitat protection for critically endangered species is through wildfire prevention and response

The Threat

Longer dry seasons and rising temperatures are turning routine farm burns into runaway wildfires. On the steep slopes of Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, flames can rage for weeks, destroying habitat and driving wildlife population crashes. Most outbreaks begin on smallholder farms where bush burning is used to clear fields. Poor fire management, paired with ultra-dry conditions, allows sparks to move from farms into the surrounding forest.

Devastating wildfires destroy vital forest habitats, pushing endangered species closer to the brink. (© SMACON)

Our Approach

We take a constellation of strategies to stop wildfires, from our early-warning system to firefighting, and local law enforcement by community leaders. Our two main approaches to stopping wildfires:

Risk Management

Our early warning system predicts wildfire risk and communicates it to smallholder farmers

Risk Communication

Risk Advisory Signposts: Color-coded signposts guide farmers on the safest time to clear farm brush. Trained Forest Guardians manage these advisories, patrolling farmlands to supervise burning and provide rapid response to farm fires on high-risk days.

Town Criers: In these communities, oral communication remains one of the most wide-reaching channels. Town criers communicate daily risk advisories directly to community members at the break of day, ensuring that wildfire warnings reach everyone.

Electronic Communications: We are currently exploring electronic risk communication channels to complement our existing systems. The goal is to reach more farmers, faster.

Climate monitoring

The weather station in Buanchor, one of the communities surrounding Afi Mountain. (© SMACON)

Climate monitoring is essential for understanding the impacts of climate change on critical landscapes, biodiversity, and local livelihoods. Through hourly and daily monitoring of temperature, humidity, and rainfall, we document weather changes that impact wildfire risk. Our long-term monitoring data tracks climate shifts to help with local adaptation. We have weather stations in communities around Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary as part of our long-term partnership with host communities. This allows us to predict wildfire risk, ultimately saving critical bat habitat and protecting local smallholder farms.

Training on Responsible Burning

Farmers are trained in safer fire management practices to help them clear their farms safely and reduce the chance of small farm burns becoming huge forest fires.

Response

Forest Guardians

Trained Forest Guardian teams are members of these communities. When fires break out on farms, they spring into action to contain them before they reach the forest boundary.

Local Enforcement

Community leaders play an active role in enforcing safe burning practices, adding a layer of accountability that makes prevention sustainable over time.