Sistema Informativo e de Comunicações para o Aviso Prévio de Queimadas em Moçambique

This executive summary describes a 2009 study conducted in the Búzi District of Sofala Province, Mozambique, to evaluate the prospects of establishing an information and communications system for early warning of wildfires. The study was part of the ACCESA project, which aimed to reduce community vulnerability to climate change through community-based fire management (CBFiM). The document identifies significant gaps in institutional coordination and information flow regarding wildfires and provides recommendations for improving national monitoring, danger classification, and local reporting systems.

• Wildfire frequency in central and northern Mozambique has increased significantly, with estimates suggesting almost all forests in these regions burn at least once a year. This is a sharp increase from a previous return cycle of approximately 12 years for the Southern Africa region. The increase is attributed to population growth, higher demand for land and income, and the collapse of traditional land-use management systems due to political changes.
• Uncontrolled wildfires pose severe risks to the miombo forest ecosystem in central Mozambique, potentially converting forests and wooded areas into savanna-like zones because annual fires prevent tree species from regenerating, even those that are fire-tolerant. Additionally, these fires threaten human lives, critical infrastructure, and economic activities.
• Mozambique lacks a clear institutional framework and coordinated planning for wildfire management. While the national 'Plano de Acção para a Prevenção e Controlo de Queimadas (2007)' exists, efforts are not systematically coordinated or effectively executed across institutions.
• There is a failure in the systematic collection and dissemination of wildfire information between government levels. Nationally, data is limited to Web Fire Mapper Services used primarily by the Ministry of Agriculture's Forest Inventory Unit. At provincial and district levels, satellite data is only accessible to a few entities with satellite internet, such as the Catholic University of Beira and Gorongosa National Park. At the community level, reporting is inconsistent because wildfires are often viewed as a normal part of the landscape rather than a problem.
• The document recommends establishing a national Fire Danger Rating System (SCPI) using meteorological data from 20 existing stations. This system, developed in collaboration with the Canadian Forest Service, would allow the National Institute for Disaster Management (INGC) to define readiness criteria and identify when fires become local or national disasters.
• To improve local management, the report suggests strengthening reporting through existing district and local disaster committees and natural resource management committees. It recommends the creation of specialized fire management brigades and the reintroduction of traditional 'cold fire' (low-intensity burning) techniques to reduce hazard and support livelihoods.

APA

Hoffmann, A. A. (2009). Sistema Informativo e de Comunicações para o Aviso Prévio de Queimadas em Moçambique. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/mozambique_fire_warning_system_pt.pdf

Chicago

Hoffmann, Anja A. Sistema Informativo e de Comunicações para o Aviso Prévio de Queimadas em Moçambique. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2009. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/mozambique_fire_warning_system_pt.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hoffmann |first1=Anja A. |title=Sistema Informativo e de Comunicações para o Aviso Prévio de Queimadas em Moçambique |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=March 2009 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/mozambique_fire_warning_system_pt.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hoffmann2009sistema, author = {Hoffmann, Anja A.}, title = {{Sistema Informativo e de Comunicações para o Aviso Prévio de Queimadas em Moçambique}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2009}, month = mar, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/mozambique_fire_warning_system_pt.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }