STRATEGIC PILLARS for National and Regional Policy INTEGRATED FIRE MANAGEMENT

Latin America and the Caribbean are experiencing an unprecedented combination of climatic and social change. Forest fires, increasingly frequent and severe, have ceased to be a seasonal event and have become a structural challenge that threatens our biodiversity, food security and the well-being of millions of people. In light of this situation, the Group of Experts on Forest Fires in Latin American and the Caribbean (GEFF LAC) is spearheading the leadership of the transition towards Integrated Fire Management (IFM). Through the Policy Panel, we have consolidated this document as a strategic compass. It is not simply a compilation of agreements; it is testament to almost three decades of normative and scientific evolution. From the first guidelines of ITTO, the International Tropical Timber Organisation, in 1997, to the recent milestones of IIFAN, the International Indigenous-Led Fire Adaptation Network, and the Bogotá Summit of 2025, the region has charted a clear course that integrates scientific rigour with the ancestral wisdom of our indigenous peoples and local communities. This technical input recognises that fire is a complex element that requires equally complex and participatory governance. By adopting the FAO's 5Rs approach and aligning ourselves with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, we are building public policies based on evidence and territorial justice. Each chapter of this work reflects the leadership of our member countries and the strength of our partnerships with organisations such as the ACTO (Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation) the European Union, UNEP and the FAO. We are delivering this document to decision-makers, technicians, and aid workers as a tool for action. Our goal is for these foundations to serve to update legislation, strengthen brigades and, above all, protect the natural heritage of each of our countries. In the lead-up to COP30 in Belém, GEFF LAC reaffirms that fire management is not just about fire suppression, but is a fundamental pillar for environmental peace and sustainability in our region. GEFF LAC Policy Panel March 2026