Context: The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) adopted India's resolution on "Strengthening the Global Management of Wildfires," promoting a shift from solely reactive firefighting to proactive prevention. The resolution gained broad support from member states.
UNEA-7 at a Glance
- UNEA is the highest global decision-making body on environmental matters, functioning under UNEP.
- UNEA-7 adopted 11 resolutions, covering:
- Wildfires
- Coral reef protection
- Antimicrobial resistance
- Cryosphere protection
- Chemicals and waste management, etc.
Key Provisions of India’s Wildfire Resolution
1. Strengthening International Cooperation
- Calls for development of integrated early warning systems (EWS) combining:
- Climate data
- Fire risk mapping
- Satellite imagery and ground sensors
- Emphasises community-based alert systems to ensure last-mile dissemination.
2. Enhanced Regional and Global Collaboration
- Encourages transboundary cooperation, especially where forests span multiple countries.
- Focuses on the entire wildfire cycle:
- Prevention
- Emergency response
- Post-fire recovery and ecosystem restoration
3. Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building
- Establishment of global platforms to:
- Share best practices
- Exchange scientific research and indigenous knowledge
- Capacity-building programmes for:
- Forest managers
- Disaster response personnel
- Local communities
4. Support for National and Regional Action Plans
- Assists countries in formulating:
- Integrated Fire Management (IFM) strategies
- Long-term wildfire resilience plans
- Encourages alignment with:
- National climate adaptation plans
- Disaster risk reduction strategies
5. Facilitating Access to Finance
- Supports project formulation and technical assistance.
- Helps countries access:
- Multilateral climate funds
- Results-based and performance-linked financing
- Recognises wildfire management as part of climate adaptation finance.
Wildfires in India: Current Scenario
Forest Fire Vulnerability (ISFR 2019)
- 36% of India’s forests are prone to frequent fires
- 6% classified as very highly fire-prone
- 4% categorised as extremely fire-prone
- Fire-prone regions concentrated in:
- Central India
- North-East
- Parts of Western Himalayas
Use of Technology in India
- Satellite-based remote sensing and GIS play a key role in:
- Early detection
- Fire progression tracking
- Damage assessment
- Key systems used:
- MODIS
- SNPP-VIIRS
- Supports real-time monitoring and quicker response.
IAS-2026 - OPTIONAL / GEOGRAPHY / PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / SOCIOLOGY / ANTHROPOLOGY / ORIENTATION ON 03 & 04-10-2025 
