African Fire Dialogues | Addis Ababa, Wondo Genet, Hawassa, Ethiopia | 14-18 September 2026
Community leaders, traditional institutions, researchers, policymakers and development partners advocate for community-led wildfire prevention, livelihood support and increased investment in fire-smart African landscapes.
Participants at Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources, Ethiopia
The Fire-Resilient Future of Africa Begins in Its Communities
ADDIS ABABA, WONDO GENET (HAWASSA), ETHIOPIA – The road to fire-resilient landscapes in Africa starts with its people who live in, rely on and safeguard the forests, rangelands, rural landscapes and dryland ecosystems. That was the main theme of the African Fire Dialogues which took place in Ethiopia from 14 to 18 September 2026, with community voices and concerns contributing to a joint fire agenda in Africa.
Held by the Pastoral and Environmental Network in the Horn of Africa (PENHA) and Tropenbos International (TBI), together with Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources, Landscape Alliance and the Government of Ethiopia’s Ethiopian Forestry Development (EFD), the dialogues linked local experience and interests with more expansive policy dialogue.
Participants included community members, customary leaders, scientists, government institutions, civil society and development partners, including representatives of the World Resources Institute, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, FAO Global Fire Management Hub, the inter-governmental Forest & Climate Leaders Partnership (FCLP), and the World Bank. Participants shared learning and tested solutions to build resilience against wildfire while safeguarding livelihoods and landscapes.
The programme had two overlapping parts. The Community Fire Dialogue (14-17 September) was centered on community experience, local knowledge, and frontline issues. The Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue (MSD) on 18 September reflected these community priorities into policy proposals and calls for action.
Participants came from Ghana, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Tanzania, Kenya and the Republic of the Congo, as well as Bolivia and Indonesia. They shared their stories of fire prevention, managing landscapes and community stewardship.
Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue in Addis
A central message emerged: People must not be viewed solely as recipients of wildfire responses. They are key partners whose local knowledge, leadership and involvement are vital role in effective and long-term fire management. For PENHA and TBI, the dialogues offered a chance to link local priorities to national and regional policy priorities, emphasizing the value of giving power back to the people to protect landscapes and build resilience to climate change.
PENHA’s Ethiopia Country Representative, Amare Merka, reiterated the organization’s community-centered approach: “Communities are always central for PENHA. You have to put people at the heart of policy, strategy, and frameworks.” For PENHA, environmental conservation must be combined with livelihoods promotion.
Community Fire Dialogue: Drawing on Local Experience and Understanding
The dialogue among communities and practitioners on the issues, drivers and impacts of wildfires enabled them to put forward solutions that are locally relevant. Field visits and discussions in and around Wondo Genet in Hawassa explored the local community knowledge, institutions and practices that address and respond to fire risks.
Participants stressed that fire plays many roles in African rangelands and land use systems. Traditional controlled burning is practiced for land preparation, pasture management, honey harvesting and other livelihood needs. When applied under the right conditions, these may have ecological, cultural and economic benefits, but the fires can get out of control and lead to deforestation and environmental impacts that undermine livelihoods. The discussions highlighted a number of threats that may lead to destructive fires, such as: drought, climate change, land degradation and unsafe methods of burning. Challenges include insufficient fire breaks, limited availability of firefighting equipment and trained personnel, and risks linked to activities such as charcoal production and traditional honey harvesting.
Firefighting operations can be especially challenging for communities living in hard-to-reach and remote areas. Participants from the Afar and Tigray regions described their particular challenges of poor road access, water scarcity and a lack of basic firefighting equipment. They also described how the Fire-Smart Platform, established by PENHA, TBI and Landscape Alliance, had enabled real-time coordination via WhatsApp of a joint response to the recent wildfire in Desa’a Forest. Despite the limitations, local communities have successfully found practical solutions to both prevention and response: with firebreaks, awareness raising and the mobilization of volunteers.
Traditional Institutions Are Essential to Landscape Protection
The Dialogue highlighted the importance of traditional natural resource management and indigenous knowledge. In Oromia, community members described the role of the Gadaa governing system and the women-led Siqqee institution in protecting natural resources through community awareness and collective responsibility. Forest protection associations and traditional institutions can create local structures and mechanisms to facilitate action, resolve conflicts and maintain accountability. Other African country cases showed the importance of customary rules in fire management, with social norms against burning neighbor’s land and community norms of prevention and collective action.
Lessons point to the need for integrated approaches, drawing on science and traditional knowledge, modern technology and public support. Community systems play an important role, alongside regional and national governments in a coordinated wildfire management system.
Participants emphasized that commitment by the community is not sufficient. A lack of equipment, training, personal protective equipment and finance can also make local volunteers vulnerable and hamper their efforts.
Ethiopian Forestry Development set out the Government of Ethiopia’s vision for an integrated national fire management system that coordinates action at different levels, combining community management with real-time monitoring. Dr. Adefires Worku described how the Government of Ethiopia is preparing for COP32, to be held in Ethiopia in 2027. Representatives of the Brazilian (via Zoom) and Turkish governments had a very interesting exchange on how they prepared for the COP events in their respective countries, and how they have addressed wildfires as part of integrated landscape management and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
This African Dialogue was intended to provide a basis for targeted action on wildfire at Africa’s COP32, which will highlight African solutions to the broader challenges posed by climate change.
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