Fire Management

Fire Management is one of the other critical aspect of avoiding Deforestation and Land Degradation. Wild fires cause unnecessary destruction to the environment which results in forest loss and life to humans and every other creature on planet earth. Also the resultant smoke from fires contribute to carbon pollution thereby increasing global warming. If all grass and ground cover canopy is destroyed due to unwanted fires, this results in top soil loose thereby causing land degradation.  Fire management helps protect the wildlife habitats and promotes fresh growth of wildlife pastures . 

The Kariba REDD+ project therefore has taken fire management as one of the best ways to avoid deforestation and land degradation. Communities at ward level have been trained in fire fighting management and have also been provided with fire fighting tools such as Knapsack sprayers, fire beaters, sickles, slashers, shovels, hoes etc. There are fire fightings committees which have been created at ward level. 

Each year between May and July the firefighting committees conduct trainings on fire management and are also responsible for the implementation and construction of fireguards, roads clearing and early burning activities.  These activities have significantly reduced fire incidences by over 30% across the project area.

Photo 1. Early burning and road maintenance in the project area