The role of remote sensing in the implementation of Lebanons national strategy for forest fire management

Abstract

Among the factors that threaten the forests in Lebanon, fire constitutes the most dangerous one andcauses severe ecological and economic losses and, sometimes, human injuries and death. Recently, aNational strategy for forest fire management was developed and endorsed by the Lebanese Council ofMinisters. The aim of the Strategy is to reduce the risk of intense and frequent forest fires whilst allowingfor fire regimes that are socially, economically and ecologically sustainable. The Strategy acknowledgedthat decisions about fire management are best made within a risk-management framework, known asthe 5Rs, namely (1) Research, information and analysis;(2) Risk modification, including fire vulnerabilityreduction and prevention of harmful fires;(3) Readiness, covering all provisions intended to improveinterventions and safety during a fire event;(4) Response, including all means of intervention for firesuppression; and (5) Recovery, including the rehabilitation and ecological restoration of healthy forestconditions, and the support to individuals and communities in the short-and medium term aftermath ofthe fire. Although satellite remote sensing is reported to be an effective tool for conducting differentstudies related to forest fire management, only a small number of them have been conducted inLebanon. The aim of this work was define which satellite remote sensing applications can help in forestfire management in Lebanon by identifying the role of remote sensing in each of the previouslymentioned components, ie the 5Rs. The methodology of work included reviewing all items under eachstrategic component to define priorities in the implementation of remote sensing in the different phasesof fire management. The work included a presentation of operational examples from the Mediterraneanillustrating the practical use of remote sensing within a strategic framework. Overall, the review ofliterature proved that remote sensing can provide very useful support to fire managers an.