VZCZCXRO6826
RR RUEHRG
DE RUEHBR #0735 1511027
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 301027Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1769
INFO RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 2134
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 6197
RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE 8078
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 5545
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 0356
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 6242
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 3811
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 2478
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 4589
RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 6827
RUEHGE/AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN 1479
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 7378
RUEHPO/AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO 1531
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 4105
RUEHRC/USDA WASHDC
UNCLAS BRASILIA 000735
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KGHG EAGR EAID BR
SUBJECT: Brazil - Areas of Interest in Cooperation With USG on
Forest Fire Control and Prevention
REF: BRASILIA 712
1. SUMMARY: Brazilian officials have identified a range of areas
for possible cooperation with the USG on forest fire control and
prevention. Opportunities on forest fire themes include:
interagency coordination; remote monitoring; incident command
training; fire management; and environmental education. END
SUMMARY.
2. The Brazilian environmental protection agency (IBAMA) and its
forest fire prevention unit (PREVFOGO) are very interested in
addressing the serious forest fire problem in Brazil. In recent
years, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture,
USAID, and the U.S. Department of State have all worked
collaboratively with PREVFOGO on forest fire issues. IBAMA and
PREVFOGO continue to seek technical exchange opportunities with the
USG. Through recent discussions with Post and a series of seminars
in March (REFTEL), the following forest fire prevention and control
themes have been identified and prioritized by PREVFOGO for possible
future USG collaboration:
- Inter-Agency Fire Management Coordination, USG organizational
example;
- U.S. Forest Service development of a recommended National Plan for
Prevention and Control of Forest Fires in Brazil;
- Technical and professional capacity building for Brazil's national
fire prevention and control;
- Training of U.S. Incident Command System for emergency response,
interagency coordination, and communication;
- Monitoring of land condition and heat points via remote sensing
and other technical applications;
- Equipment for fire-combat and specialized protection; and
- Environmental education programs and public outreach.
3. COMMENT: Forest fire prevention and control in Brazil will play
an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by Brazil in
the future. Technical assistance by USG agencies on the fire
management themes identified could help the Brazilian authorities
better address this serious problem. END COMMENT.
SOBEL