FIRST NATIONAL COORDINATION MEETING ON ENHANCING FIRE MANAGEMENT CAPACITY IN THE CHERNOBYL EXCLUSION ZONE

September 23, 2016
Kyiv

 

Organized by:
·        
  • United States Forest Service International Programs
  • State Agency of Ukraine on the Exclusion Zone Management
  • State Service of Ukraine on Emergencies
  • Regional Eastern European Fire Monitoring Center (REEFMC) / National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv
  • Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC), Freiburg, Germany 
 
 
Background and Rationale
 
       As a consequence of climate change and socio-economic and demographic changes the countries of Eastern Europe are becoming more vulnerable to be affected by large wildfires. Wildfires burning in environments contaminated by radioactivity, unexploded ordnance and chemical substances create additional non-standard risks to firefighters and may have negative health impacts on the firefighters and on the local populations. The most serious threats arise from fires burning vegetation contaminated by radioactivity after the failure of Reactor No. 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986. The overall increasing threats of development of extreme wildfires, which may lead to emergencies and reach disaster dimensions, are calling for enhancing coordinated preparedness and suppression capabilities at national level. The potential transnational implications of extreme wildfires burning on radioactively contaminated terrain on the environment, human health and human security have prompted international organizations and bilateral donors to support the Republic of Ukraine in building fire management capacities. Regional organizations such the Council of Europe (through the Euro-Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement – EUR-OPA) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), as well as the United Nations (through the UN Environment Programme – UNEP) are cooperating towards a resource-sharing approach. Bilateral programmes between the United States of America and Ukraine, implemented by the U.S. Forest Service, and the work of specialized international and regional institutions such as the Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC) and the Regional Eastern European Fire Monitoring Center (REEFMC), are supporting the endeavor of developing an overall harmonized agenda.
        A first and prime step towards enhancing national fire management capabilities is the development of effective and efficient inter-agency coordination. The threats of consequences of extreme wildfires burning on radioactively contaminated terrain suggest that highest priority should be given to develop and implement and inter-agency mechanism for territory of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (ChEZ).
 
Organization of the First National Coordination Meeting
 
The First National Coordination Meeting on Enhancing Fire Management Capacity in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone will be held on 22-23 September 2016 in Kyiv.
 
Objectives of the First National Coordination Meeting
 
-     Review the wildfire threats and fire management capabilities in the ChEZ
-    Provide international experience in the development of inter-agency / cross-sectoral cooperation and coordination in fire management
-    Define the challenges for fire management in the ChEZ
 
Expected outcomes of the First National Coordination Meeting
 
-    Development of a proposal for establishment of an Inter-Agency Task Force on Fire Management in the ChEZ
-    Definition of draft terms of reference for the Task Force
-    Recommendation for the preparation of a National Round Table aimed at addressing fire management at national level beyond the ChEZ (including the agricultural domain, general public health and security, role of civil society organizations, NGOs involved in fire management, etc.)
-    Recommendation for the preparation of a Regional Consultation on Fire Management aimed at enhancing cross-border cooperation in fire management
 
 
        The Regional Eastern European Fire Monitoring Center (REEFMC), Kyiv will support U.S. Forest Service International Programs in the preparation, logistical / organization of the National Coordination Meeting.
 
Contacts
United States Forest Service International Programs
 
Shelia Slemp
Russia, Europe, and Near Asia Desk
Washington, DC 20005
U.S.A.
 
Tel:       +1-202-644-4558
Cell:     +1-202-459-3400
Regional Eastern European Fire Monitoring Center (REEFMC) / National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine
 
Sergiy Zibtsev
Head, REEFMC
c/o Institute of Forestry and Landscape-Park Management
15, Geroiv Oborony Str.
03041 Kyiv
Ukraine
 
Tel:       +38-044-527-82-82
Fax:     +38-044-527-82-82
Cell:     +38-067-261-16-82

 
 

 

 


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