©Lara Steil

Assuring the Future of Forests with Integrated Risk Management (AFFIRM) 

The global AFFIRM Mechanism, funded by the Republic of Korea and implemented by FAO, aims to safeguard global forests from various threats, particularly wildfires. AFFIRM is being developed as an internationally applicable mechanism for integrated risk management (IRM) that can prevent the devastating impacts of large-scale forest disturbances. It helps address known gaps in data needs, information, and understanding of forest-related risks, as well as a lack of an integrated approach to risk management for forest sustainability. Recognising the threat of damaging wildfires globally and considering the scale of the initial budget, AFFIRM is initially focused on integrated fire management. Since forest disturbances are inter-related and can have cascading effects, an integrated approach to forest risk management has the potential to be more efficient and effective than current practices. The project is currently being piloted in Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Thailand, and Viet Nam with lessons applied globally. 

AFFIRM

  1. Advances IRM practices in partner countries with a focus on integrated fire management.  As part of this, AFFIRM analyses the fire situation in each country to develop IRM plans including methodologies for conducting disturbance risk assessments and recommendations for risk reduction actions. These plans can then be used as examples for other countries in similar contexts.
  2. Enhances global knowledge sharing on integrated fire management – and integrated risk management more broadly – through the production of outreach and training materials.
  3. Contributes to the Global Fire Management Hub, an initiative co-led by FAO and UNEP, which will further strengthen countries’ capacities to implement integrated fire management.

The project runs from 2023 to 2027, with a total budget of 4 400 000 000 South Korean won.

Project partners 

The AFFIRM project leverages partnerships with key organizations and agencies, including: 

  • Korea Forest Service
  • Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO)
  • Regional Community Forestry Training Center for Asia and the Pacific (RECOFTC)

 

last updated:  Friday, April 12, 2024