Putting Out The Flames
5 ways USAID is preventing and responding to wildfires
2023 was the hottest year on record, coinciding with deadly heat waves on nearly every continent. Hotter temperatures and drier weather are exacerbating the frequency and intensity of wildfires around the world. Today, we are losing twice as many trees to wildfires as we did 20 years ago. These devastating fires are both a driver and a result of climate change: last year, wildfires accounted for 2 billion tons of carbon emissions, more than all but three countries.
To raise awareness and spur commitments around extreme heat, USAID and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies kicked off a Global Sprint of Action on Extreme Heat — calling on governments, civil society, the private sector, and youth to take concrete steps to prepare countries and communities for extreme heat and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change.
In taking action on extreme heat, here are five ways USAID is preventing and responding to wildfires around the world.
1. Using Geospatial Data to Combat Forest Fires in Thailand
In Chiang Rai, Thailand’s northernmost province, identifying the exact location of forest fires was challenging and time-consuming for governments and first responders who had to rely solely on community reports. Since 2019, SERVIR-Mekong, a USAID-NASA partnership with the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, has worked with Thai officials to use geospatial data to identify and monitor fire hotspots.
USAID worked with local scientists to develop the SmokeWatch mobile application — enabling first responders to prevent and control forest fires by pinpointing their exact location in real-time. The SmokeWatch mobile application, officially adopted into Chiang Rai’s fire management policy in 2022, was awarded Thailand’s National Innovation Award in 2023.
Moving forward, the new SERVIR Southeast Asia will build on this work by helping more countries monitor air quality, including smoke from fires, to improve public health while preventing fires. This project will also support the Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states and expand its SERVIR Air Quality Explorer to cover other Southeast Asia countries, as well as to include additional air quality measures.
2. Forming the First All-Indigenous Women’s Fire Brigade in Brazil
USAID is working with the U.S. Forest Service and the Government of Brazil to provide training and technical support to Indigenous firefighters in the Brazilian Amazon. The partnership formed the Xerente Indigenous Women’s Fire Brigade — the first of its kind in Brazil — to help reduce forest fires in the Amazon state of Tocantins.
In addition to fighting fires, the Xerente Brigade leads forest restoration projects, local environmental education, and prescribed burning. Their work has inspired other Indigenous women in Brazil to form fire brigades: USAID’s partnership now supports four Indigenous women firefighter groups. The Xerente Brigade was recently honored with a 2024 Brazilian Women Making a Difference Award from the U.S. Embassy and Consulates of the United States in Brazil.
3. Using Satellite Images to Monitor Wildfires in Mozambique
In Northern Mozambique’s Niassa Special Reserve — one of Africa’s largest protected areas — hotter, drier weather coupled with the burning of land for agriculture is increasing the frequency of uncontrolled fires and threatening the health of the area’s rich ecosystems, species, and neighboring communities.
USAID and the U.S. Forest Service are using satellite-based technology to help officials monitor fires in real-time and gather the information needed to analyze their patterns. Using this data, the partnership is working with the Government of Mozambique to develop a fire response and management plan for Niassa Special Reserve, the largest protected area in Mozambique.
4. Institutionalizing Forest Fire Protocols in Honduras
USAID and the U.S. Forest Service are supporting the Government of Honduras to institutionalize forest fire protocols and improve local efforts to understand, prevent, and respond to wildfires. Last year, this support helped communities cut their fire response time in half, which in turn reduced the amount of damage caused by fires.
The partnership also promotes youth and community involvement in conservation and wildfire management. With USAID support, over 400 community firefighting crews have been trained and equipped to prevent wildfires and protect their forests.
5. Seeking Solutions through the Fire Grand Challenge
Our work to prevent and respond to wildfires isn’t done. Extreme fires are estimated to increase by up to 14% by 2030 and up to 50% by the end of the century.
That’s why USAID is contributing a prize to the Fire Grand Challenge. The Fire Grand Challenge, conducted in partnership with the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and ConservationXLabs, is an open call for solutions that combines cutting-edge innovation and technology with local and Indigenous expertise to revolutionize our approach to fire management. Sign up to be notified when applications are open.
About the Author
Jessica Bach is a Communications and Knowledge Management Associate with the Advancing Capacity for the Environment Program.
