Wildfire Management.
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.
The charred remains of a lone tree following an uncontrolled farm burn ©SMACON
Devastating wildfires destroy vital forest habitats, pushing endangered species closer to the brink.
OUR APPROACH
We take a constellation of strategies to stop wildfires
We combine an early-warning risk system, community training, local law enforcement, and Forest Guardian teams to stop wildfires before they reach the forest, and contain them quickly when they do.
Fire risk advisory signpost in Olum, one of the communities surrounding Afi Mountain ©SMACON
WILDFIRE RISK LEVEL
RISK MANAGEMENT
Early warning & Risk communication
Our early warning system predicts wildfire risk and communicates it to smallholder farmers through multiple channels, reaching everyone from literate community members to those who rely on oral communication.
Risk Advisory Signpost
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 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.
Farmers are trained in safe fire management practices to help them clear their farms safely and reduce the chance of small farm burns becoming huge forest fires.
Training on Responsible Burning​
(© SMACON)
RESPONSE
Forest Guardians
(© SMACON)
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.
Community leaders play an active role in enforcing safe burning practices, adding a layer of accountability that makes prevention sustainable over time.
Local Enforcement
(© SMACON)
IMPACT
What four years of our wildfire prevention model looks like on the ground
0​
​
Wildfires
​
Four years at Afi Mountain (2022–2025)
~500,000
​
Hectares protected
​
Afi Mountain, Anape, and
Oban
100
​
​
Forest Guardians
​
Trained to respond to and prevent farm fires
10
​
National Park Rangers
​
Equipped for joint
patrols