‘Southeast Asia fire dialogue’ concludes with actionable recommendations and launch of Regional Fire Management Mechanism

The ‘Southeast Asia fire dialogue’ provided a platform for local communities to engage directly with stakeholders. Held in Kanchanaburi, Thailand from 20 to 23 May 2025, the dialogue brought together around 80 participants representing Indigenous Peoples, local communities, government agencies, research institutions, international and regional organizations and funding institutions.

The event focused on strengthening community-based fire management (CBFiM) in Southeast Asia through cross-learning, collaborative planning and inclusive, multi-stakeholder dialogue.

Sharing fire knowledge across borders

The dialogue enabled cross-learning among communities from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao PDR, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam. Participants shared cases from their respective communities. Through these stories, along with roundtable discussions, field demonstrations and marketplace exhibitions, community representatives shared their fire cultures and traditional practices, the tools and technology they use to monitor and respond to fires, and the policy and governance systems within which they operate.

On the final day, community members engaged with government officials, academics and donors. These conversations helped community representatives better understand national and regional policy processes and funding mechanisms. This deeper understanding can inform future local strategies, helping communities align their efforts with broader fire management priorities.

Formulating inclusive and practical solutions

One of the key outcomes of the event was a set of shared recommendations for advancing CBFiM. Participants emphasized the need for more accessible, flexible and sustainable sources of funding to support local action. Ideas included the creation of local trust funds, tourism initiatives and private sector engagement. Integrating fire management into national development planning was also seen as critical to ensuring sustained government support.

Participants highlighted the importance of ensuring meaningful involvement of women and youth by setting minimum participation thresholds. They called for stronger benefit-sharing mechanisms and targeted capacity building to promote more equitable and inclusive engagement. Recognizing the value of Indigenous knowledge, participants recommended that governments acknowledge and incorporate traditional knowledge through structured dialogues and formal knowledge exchange processes.

At the community level, participants emphasized the importance of inclusive governance systems, strong leadership and decision-making, and adequate resource allocation. They noted that governments need to play a leading role in capacity building and institution development through context-specific and community-focused curriculum, including the use of visual tools and local languages. Many also stressed the importance of integrating Indigenous knowledge with modern technologies and promoting learning exchanges across communities and countries.

Improving tools, technology and data systems

Participants identified technology and data systems as key enablers of more effective fire management. They called for investments in efficient alert systems and improved access to information systems. Enabling financial support for technologies and tools was seen as essential. Open consultation dialogue among all stakeholders was recommended as a way to guide the development of fire-management technology and tools, and to ensure data sharing. 

Launching a mechanism for regional collaboration

A concrete outcome of the dialogue was the launch of the Southeast Asia Fire Management Mechanism (SEA-FiMM), which will address transboundary haze and wildfire challenges.

Jointly initiated by the APFNet and RECOFTC, SEA-FiMM will serve as a regional collaborative framework to channel expertise and resources. It will connect diverse partners and stakeholder groups, enhance knowledge and capacity, and promote effective, inclusive solutions, fostering sustainable CBFiM in the long term.

Lu De, executive director of the APFNet, notes that APFNet has long recognized that forest fires, particularly given their transboundary nature, pose a significant threat to ecological security and sustainable livelihoods in Southeast Asia. “Our vision for supporting a mechanism like SEA-FiMM stems from a deep-seated commitment to promote sustainable forest management and leverage regional strengths,” he says. He also notes that he is looking forward to more partners joining fire management efforts through SEA-FiMM.

David Ganz, the executive director of RECOFTC, points out that the mechanism embodies the values of collaboration, commitment and governance. He says, “Trying to focus on fire in Southeast Asia is already a huge mandate for us. With collaborative spirit, commitment and good governance, we can ensure this mechanism makes a difference and helps local communities scale up and replicate proven models to various contexts.”

Tropenbos International (TBI) is the first official partner to join SEA-FiMM. Its executive director, Joost van Monfort, describes the mechanism as a collective effort to learn from one another and develop context-sensitive solutions. “This mechanism will help us collectively start looking for solutions,” he says. “We can only succeed if we learn together and collect solutions. I’m eager to see how we take our first steps.”

Building momentum for future action

There will be a dedicated session on CBFiM at the Global Fire Management Hub Plenary 2025, providing a platform where insights and outcomes from the fire dialogue can be shared.

To further institutionalize community-based approaches, RECOFTC and APFNet will co-develop CBFiM guidelines that integrate traditional knowledge, participatory planning and modern tools. We will also develop and launch an online course aimed at sharing good fire management practices and models at the community level.

The ‘Southeast Asia fire dialogue’ will become an annual event. It will continue to serve as a regional platform for community voices, policy makers, technical experts and donors to come together, share lessons and insights, and identify strategies and enabling conditions. This will ultimately help scale up effective, community-driven fire management solutions across the Southeast Asian region.

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Qian is communication and project support coordinator (on a secondment from APFNet) at RECOFTC.