Technical assistance to the Algerian government to prevent and fight forest fires Algeria

FORESTRYFORESTRY TRANSVERSALTRANSVERSAL

World BankDirectorate General of Forests of Algeria

Services: Technical assistance

Countries: Algeria

Dates of intervention: 2022/06 - 2023/06

Amount executed: 69 650 €
Total amount of the service: 119 935 €

Main backer: World Bank - Client

Main beneficiary: Directorate General of Forests of Algeria

Support provider: SalvaTerra

Experts: Olivier BOUYER, Melaine KERMARC

Certificate of satisfactory execution

Context of the service

Forests cover only 1.5% of Algeria's land area, but fires pose a growing threat to people, property and economic activity in the country. Human activities and climate change (heat waves and droughts) are worsening the number and intensity of forest fires every year.

The objective of this mission was to:

- Conduct an in-depth analysis of the available data on the forest sector in order to draw up an inventory of forest resources in Algeria and the governance of the forest sector;

- Assess the institutional capacity of the entities in charge of forest management, particularly forest fires;

- Make operational recommendations in terms of prevention and fight against forest fires:

Services provided

The services were as follows:

- Mapping of the actors involved in forest management in Algeria, assessment of their needs and capacities, and proposal of a capacity development plan to address the identified weaknesses;

- Assessment of forest fire forecasting and detection systems; data, monitoring and forecasting needs; and information-sharing mechanisms;

- Review of best practices in integrated fire management (forecasting, monitoring, fighting and reporting);

- Proposal of a dynamic intersectoral information sharing platform to improve the prevention, management and reporting of forest fires;

- Production of a Forest Engagement Note (NEF) for Algeria and a summary for policymakers, to strengthen their commitment to sustainable forest management.

Summary of the service

Technical assistance to the Algerian Government to analyse the forest sector and the national system for preventing, monitoring and fighting forest fires, assess and strengthen the capacities of local actors, and make operational recommendations for the establishment of an information-sharing platform and its integration into a general system for the prevention and management of major risks.