ASEAN-UNEP Cooperation on the Establishment of a GIS Database and Improvement of Communications for Forest Fire Management

During the 1997-98 Indonesia forest fire, national governments and international authorities tried their best to suppress fires to minimize the impacts, however, there was lack of base-line data about water resources, transport networks, land use patterns, topography types. It was evident that such information is essential to carry out forest fire risk assessment, early warning and monitoring. In order to provide an efficient and cost-effective basis for base-line information, a computerized Geographic Information System is necessary to meet the requirements of managers and decision-makers. Indeed, GIS has the ability to analyze and manipulate different kinds of spatial data to provide accurate and timely information for decision making. 

Forest fire prediction is a sophisticated method of simulating various spatial and climatic parameters. As the pace of land development and conversion increases, there is an increasing need for a unified source of information. The preparation and application of forest fire management plans require a wide range of information, much of it spatially referenced. GIS has the advantage of allowing users to perform complex spatial analysis and modeling operations to facilitate effective management planning.

UNEP's Initiative

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) funding, is implementing a project on "Emergency Response to Combat Forest Fires in Indonesia to Prevent Regional Haze in South East Asia". One of the main components of the UNEP-GEF project is to "Establish a GIS Database and Improvement of Communications for Forest Fire Management". UNEP through its facilities at Environment Assessment Program for Asia-Pacific (EAP.AP), Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, is implementing the mentioned activities in Indonesia and Malaysia. Six thematic layers such as, elevation, geology, land use, hydrology, settlement and infrastructure are initially selected based on past experiences that have showed that the main causes of forest fires in the region are human activities which are represented by settlements, land use and infrastructure. Additionally, to determine the accessibility of fire locations and the possibility to extinguish fire, information such as elevation, hydrology, geology and land use/land cover are required. Since this information is not available from other sources, it has to be generated using existing maps and satellite imageries. Under the project, such a database will be set up for Indonesia and Malaysia.

To coordinate the implementation of the Regional Haze Action Plan, the ASEAN Haze Technical Task Force (HTTF) meets on a regular basis. In order to facilitate this coordination process, the HTTF requested UNEP to assist in setting-up a video conferencing system for Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and ASEAN Secretariat. Such a system will also help coordinate forest fire response in the future. Under the mentioned project, appropriate system will be identified and installed in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, as well as at the ASEAN Secretariat and UNEP.