ParticipatoryandInterculturalFireManagementNetworkFirstMeeting

Scientific Parupa Station, Venezuelan Corporation of Guayana (CVG), via,Kavanayén Indigenous Community, Gran Sabana, Parque Nacional Canaima,Venezuela8–11July2015

Authors:BibianaBilbaoandJayMistry

Supportedby:

TheBritishAcademy,UnitedKingdom

InstitutoNacionaldeParquesNacionales(INPARQUES)

MinisteriodelPoderPopulardeEcosocialismoyAguas,Venezuela

EstaciónCientíficaParupa(ECP),CorporaciónVenezolanadeGuayana(CVG),Venezuela

MeetingorganisingcommitteeBibianaBilbao,UniversidadSimónBolívar,Venezuela

JayMistry,RoyalHollowayUniversityofLondon,UnitedKingdom

MiguelMatany,ComandanciaBomberosForestales,INPARQUES,Venezuela

HéctorRodríguez,DirecciónEstaciónCientíficaParupa,CVG,Venezuela

AdrianaMillán,UniversidadCentraldeVenezuela

RosaSosa,EscuelaTécnicaAgropecuariaKavanayén,Venezuela

MarianaConstati,EscuelaTécnicaAgropecuariaKavanayén(ETAK),Venezuela

ErickLenarduzzi,DirecciónGeneraldeINPARQUES,Venezuela

MilagroMárquez,EscuelaTécnicaAgropecuariaKavanayén(ETAK),Venezuela

MilagroMárquez,EscuelaTécnicaAgropecuariaKavanayén(ETAK),Venezuela

LogisticalsupportRosaHernao,EstaciónCientíficaParupa(ECP),CVG,Venezuela

ElizabethRivera,UniversidadSimónBolívar,Venezuela

EnriqueMeza,ComandanciaBomberosForestales,INPARQUES,Venezuela

JoséGregorioLeón,EstaciónCientíficaParupa,CVG,Venezuela

HumbertoChani,EstaciónCientíficaParupa,CVG,Venezuela

EduardoZambrano,UniversidadSimónBolívar,Venezuela

SofiaMarin,UniversidadSimónBolívar,Venezuela

1 BACKGROUNDANDAIMSOFTHEMEETINGThe Participatory and Intercultural Fire Management Network meeting in Scientific StationParupa, CVG (Venezuelan Corporation of Guayana), Gran Sabana, Canaima National Park,Venezuela, was the first meeting of a project funded by the British Academy (UK researchorganisation)withtheobjectiveto:

“developa‘case’forintegratingIndigenousfirepracticeswithingovernmentfiremanagementpolicy”.

TheprojectarisesfromacollaborationbetweenDrJayMistryofRoyalHollowayUniversityofLondon,UK,andDrBibianaBilbao,UniversidadSimónBolívar,Venezuela.DrsMistryandBilbaohave considerable experienceofworkingwith Indigenous communities inBrazil,GuyanaandVenezuela,particularlyonthetopicoffiremanagement.

In order to achieve the objective of the project, from January 2015 to December 2017, andfocusingonVenezuela,BrazilandGuyana,theprojectwill:

• organiseworkshopstosharelessonsandperspectives;

• collatesecondarydata;

• facilitatesmallIndigenousparticipatoryvideoprojectsonfiremanagement;

• useremotesensingtoassessfireextentandimpact,and;

• undertakeaseriesoffocusgroupsandinterviewswithdecision-makers.

Theaimsofthisfirstmeetingthereforewere:

1) To shareexperiences and lessonson theneedsand constraints existing in Indigenouscommunityownedfiremanagement.

2) TodevelopashareddiscourseonhowIndigenouscommunityownedfiremanagementcouldbesupportedandstrengthened.

3) Todevelopanactionplantotakeforward.

2 REVIEWOFTHELITERATUREAcomprehensive reviewof the research todate carriedouton Indigenous firemanagementacrosstheworldshowsthefollowing:

a)Fireisanintegralcomponentofsavannaandforestlandscapes,includinginVenezuela,BrazilandGuyana.

b) Indigenous people have detailed knowledge on firemanagement that could help preventlarge-scaleanddestructivewildfiresandassociatedlandusechange.

c)Althoughthereareexamplesof‘robust’Indigenousfiremanagement,itis‘declining’inmanyareasleadingtotheincreaseofinappropriateanddamagingfireoccurrence.Thisisaresultofthe interplaybetween lossof Indigenousknowledge,abreakdownofsocial relationshipsandcohesion, and conflicts (particularly of worldviews) between Indigenous and non-Indigenousstakeholders.

d) Incentive and market-based approaches run the risk of focusing on the management ofisolatedissuese.g.carbonstorage,withoutadequateunderstandingofinter-relationshipsandinter-dependencies and thereby simplifying the complexities of Indigenous firemanagement.Associated perverse financial incentives could also ‘crowd out’ community cohesion andintrinsic values,which are essential for effective Indigenous firemanagement. Requirements(fromdonors, states) formonitoringandreportingcould removecontrolof firemanagementfromIndigenouscommunities.

e) Current fire policies, and associated institutional structures, strongly focus on suppressionand fire-fighting, with Indigenous participation mostly in the form of institutionalised and‘professionalised’ rangers/brigades. This runs the risk ofmarginalising thewider community,disruptingtraditionalmodesofknowledgetransferandthereforelossofIndigenousknowledge,andconflictsbetweendifferentsectorsofthecommunity.

f)AttemptstoinstitutionaliseIndigenousfiremanagementhavefocusedontheuseofearlydryseasonfiresattheexpenseofthecomplexandsometimescontinuousburningthroughoutthedryseasonandinthewetseason.

Towardscommunityownedfiremanagement

It is clear thatecosystemsareprotectedwithin Indigenous landsnotbecause theyarebeing‘managed’ in a direct and active way, but as the indirect outcome of a healthy communitywithinitsenvironment.Inotherwords,thesustainablemanagementoftheIndigenousterritoryresultsfromsophisticatedpracticesthatmaintainsocialandecologicalintegrity,whatweterm‘communityownedsolutions’.

Indigenous firemanagement,asa communityownedsolution, is carriedoutby communitiesthemselves,contributestocommunitywell-beinginthepresentandinthefuture,andisborn,developedandsuccessfullyimplementedwithinthecommunitybythecommunityandwithout

major influence from external stakeholders. Rather than undermining Indigenous firemanagement and contributing to the already present challenges (as outlined above), higherlevel fire policies and policy-makers need to look for ways to maintain and strengthenIndigenousfiremanagement.

Policies need to focus on legitimising Indigenous fire knowledge and strengthening ways oftransferringknowledgebetweengenerations.Therealsoneedstobemoreintegrationamongall parties involved in the fire decision making process - Indigenous people, policy makers,scientists, park managers, and farmers – in amplifying communication channels andcontemplatingtheneedsandconstraintsexistinginthesystemtobemanaged.

3 LISTOFPARTICIPANTSORGANISATIONSThemeetingwasattendedby60participants fromVenezuela,Brazil,Guyanaand theUnitedKingdom. The full list of attendees can be found in Appendix I, representing the followingorganizations:

1) RoyalHollowayUniversityofLondon(RHUL),UnitedKingdom2) UniversidadSimónBolívar(USB),Venezuela3) TheOpenUniversity(OU),UnitedKingdom4) Bomberos Forestales del Intituto Nacional de Parques. Ministerio del Poder Popular

paraelEcosocialismoyAguas,Venezuela.5) DirecciónGeneral, IntitutoNacional de Parques.Ministerio del Poder Popular para el

EcosocialismoyAguas,Venezuela.6) EstaciónCientíficaParupa,CorporaciónVenezolanadeGuayana(CVG),Venezuela7) Programa de Control de Incendios, Corporación Eléctrica Nacional S.A. (CORPOELEC),

MinisteriodelPoderPopularparalaEnergíaEléctrica,Venezuela8) Brigada de Bomberos Forestales “Ataque Inicial Carlos Todd”, Corporación Eléctrica

Nacional S.A. (CORPOELEC), Ministro del Poder Popular para la Energía Eléctrica,Venezuela

9) ConsejodeAncianos,Comunidad IndígenaPemón,SantaTeresitadeKavanayén,GranSabana,ParqueNacionalCanaima,Venezuela

10) Escuela Técnica Agropecuaria (ETAK), Comunidad Indígena Pemón Arekuna, SantaTeresitadeKavanayén,MunicipioGranSabana,Venezuela

11) UniversidadNacionalExperimentalIndígenadelTauca(UNEIT),Venezuela12) InstitutodeGeografía yDesarrolloRegional.UniversidadCentral deVenezuela (UCV),

Venezuela13) InstitutodeBiologíaExperimental,UniversidadCentraldeVenezuela,Venezuela 14) InstitutoVenezolanodeInvestigacionesCientíficas(IVIC),Venezuela15) UniversidadBolivarianadeVenezuela(UBV),16) InstitutoSocioambiental(ISA),Brazil17) UnitedNationsUniversityTraditionalKnowledgeInitiative(UNU),Japan18) Prevfogo, Instituto Brasileiro doMeio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis

(IBAMA),MinistériodoMeioAmbiente,Brazil19) InstitutoNacionaldePesquisasdaAmazônia(INPA),Brazil20) FundaçãoNacionaldoÍndio(FUNAI),Brazil21) RegiãoSerras(RS),Maturuca,Brasil22) ConselhoIndígenadeRoraima(CIR),Brazil23) InstitutoRaoni(IR),Brazil24) NorthRupununiDistrictDevelopmentBoard(NRDDB),Guyana25) SouthCentralPeoplesDevelopmentAssociation(SCPDA),Guyana

4 SUMMARYOFACTIVITIESDURINGTHEMEETINGDay1–Wednesday8thJuly2015

• Welcome by Bibiana Bilbao and Jay Mistry (meeting organisers), Héctor Rodríguez(DirectorofParupaScientificStation).

• PresentationbyBibianaBilbaoandJayMistrysummarisingpreviousworkonIndigenousfiremanagementandaimsofmeeting.

• Introductionbyallparticipants,outliningtheiraffiliationsandinterestinthemeeting.• Developing current situation for Indigenous fire management – participants were

divided into groups as follows: Indigenous Venezuela; Indigenous Brazil; IndigenousGuyana; Institutions Venezuela; Institutions Brazil; Academics Venezuela. Each groupwas facilitated to produce a ‘rich picture’ of the current context of Indigenous firemanagement. Rich pictures are a compilation of drawings, pictures, symbols and textthat represent a particular situation or issue from the viewpoint(s) of the person orpeoplewhodrewthem.

• Screeningofvideos

Day2–Thursday9thJuly2015

• Completionandpresentationofeachgroup’srichpicture.• Setting objectives –participants were divided in groups from Venezuela, Brazil and

Guyanaandaskedtodevelopthe idealsituation(setofobjectives) for Indigenous firemanagement

• Presentationofobjectives• Screeningofvideos

Day3–Friday10thJuly2015

• Development of action plan – using the same groups, participants were asked todevelop realistic actionplans tomove from the current situation (rich picture) to theidealsituation(objectives).

• Presentationofactionplans• Developmentofnetworkdeclaration• Presentationofcertificatestoallparticipants• Screeningofvideos

Day4–Saturday11thJuly2015

• VisittoAponwaowaterfall• VisittotheKavanayéncommunity

5 OUTCOMESOFTHEMEETING5.1 CURRENTSITUATIONOFINDIGENOUSFIREMANAGEMENTThe current context of Indigenous fire management in Venezuela, Brazil and Guyana wereexplored and depicted by the participants in the form of a rich picture shown below. Theseshowsomeofthemainactivities,issues,concernsandchallengesfromtheperspectiveofthedifferentgroups.

5.1.1 VenezuelaThefollowingaretherichpicturesproducedbytheVenezuelanIndigenous(A),Institutional(B)andAcademics(C)groups:(A) (B)

(C)

TheIndigenousgroupofVenezuelawascomprisedmainlyofPemón(localinhabitantsofGranSabana,CanaimaNationalPark),withonememberoftheYekuana(currentlyastudentattheUniversidadNacionalExperimentalIndígenadelTauca,UNEIT).Theirrichpicture(A)highlightsthecentral roleof fire ineverydayPemón life (without fire thePemóncouldnot live). Italsodepicts concerns about new technologies affecting loss of Indigenous knowledge and theinterestoftheyoungpeopleto learnfromtheirgrandparents.Theyconsiderthat institutionshavetomakeaparadigmchangeonthesubjectoffire,integratinginitspoliciestheancestralIndigenousknowledgeaboutfiremanagementtoconservetheforestsandsavannaecosystems.The members of the Institutional group of Venezuela were firefighters and park rangers ofINPARQUES, firefightersandCoordinatorofCORPOELEC,andtheDirectorofParupaScientificStation.Theirrichpicture(B)showsfireascentraltotheGranSabanalandscape,thedifferentusesbyPemónIndigenouscommunities,andthetrainingreceivedbythepeople,processandequipment necessary to fight fire. Researchers and students from the Universidad SimónBolívar (USB),UniversidadCentraldeVenezuela (UCV),UniversidadBolivarianadeVenezuela(UBV, Santa Elena nucleus), the Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, and theRector of Universidad Nacional Experimental Indígena del Tauca (UNEIT) participated in theAcademicGroup.Richpicture (C)acknowledges the importanceof fire to thePemónpeople,butalsoreflectsthefactthatthereisstillastrongacademiclobbyagainstIndigenouspeople,blaming them for causing environmental degradation. Many academics do not considerIndigenoustraditionalknowledgevalidbecauseoftheabsenceofascientificbase.

5.1.2 BrazilThefollowingaretherichpicturesproducedbytheBrazilianIndigenous(D)andInstitutional(E)groups:(D)

(E)

The Indigenous group of Brazil who participated in the elaboration of the rich picture wascomprisedofmembersoftheInstitutoRaoniXingu,IndígenaMacuxi,CIR–ConselhoIndigenadeRoraima,ComunidadeMaturuca,EtnoregiãoSerrasandTerraIndigenaRaposaSerradoSol,Roraima.Theirrichpicture(D)showstheimportantroleoffireforfoodandlocallivelihoods.Italso reflects concerns about fires entering forests and causing degradation, particularly towater sources. Members of ISA, Instituto Socioambiental Brasil, Núcleo de Comunicação eEducação Ambiental - NCEA do Centro Nacional de Prevenção e Combate aos Incêndios –Prevfogo, Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e Recursos Naturais Renovaveis – IBAMA,InstitutoNacionaldePesquisadaAmazônia,NucleodeApoioàPesquisadeRoraima,Ministériode Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (MCTI), and Fundação Nacional do Indio, Ministério daJustiça,CoordenaçãoRegionaldeRoraima,participatedintheInstitutionalgroupofBrazil,forthediscussionandelaborationoftheirrichpicture.(E)representsaneedtoworktogetherwithIndigenouscommunities,acknowledging thevarioususesof fire in Indigenous life,butat thesametimeconcernedaboutthecurrentpoliticalsituation inBrazilandthestrongrural lobbyagainstIndigenouspeoples.

5.1.3 GuyanaThe delegation of Guyana was represented by Indigenous people only. This group wascomprisedofmembers of theNorthRupununiDistrictDevelopmentBoard (NRDDB) and theSouthCentralPeoplesDevelopmentAssociation(SCPDA),bothfromRegion9.Therichpictureprepared by this group is shown in Figure (F). It shows the numerous uses of fire for theMakushi and Wapishana peoples, but also acknowledges an increase in fires becominguncontrollableandentering forest areas, aswell asmorepeoplepassing through Indigenousterritoriesandstartingfires.

(F)

5.2 IDEAL SITUATION (OBJECTIVES) FOR INDIGENOUS FIREMANAGEMENT

BelowarethesummariesoftheobjectivesoridealsituationsforIndigenousfiremanagementpresentedbythedifferentgroupsofVenezuela,BrazilandGuyana.

5.2.1 VenezuelaThe ideal situation or objectives posed by the Venezuelan group (comprised of Indigenouspeople,academicsandmembersofpublicinstitutions)withrespecttofiremanagementwere:

1- InterculturalFireManagement(IFM)willbebasedontraditionalIndigenousknowledgeinafullprocessofrecoveryandstrengthening.

2- Include traditional, ancestral and adaptive Indigenous knowledge in the use of fire,scientific knowledge (academic) and institutional capacities in developing a new andinterculturalmanagementoffireintheCanaimaNationalPark.

5.2.2 BrazilTheBraziliangroupconsideringtwotopicsintheiridealsituation:fightingfires,andpreventingfiresandfiremanagement.

1-Fightingfires

Thegroupproposedthattoreachanidealsituationwithrespecttofightingfiresthefollowingwouldbenecessary:

a- Humanresources,whichhavetobeverywelldistributedintheIndigenousLands.b- Efficientmeansofcommunication.

2-Preventingfiresandfiremanagement

ThegroupproposedthefollowingobjectivesforIndigenousandinstitutionalactors:

Indigenousactors

Sourcesofrisk IdealSituation(objective)Farms: preparation andburning

- Stimulate greater participation and responsibility of people inthe communities for the preparation of farms and burningactivities, in order to reduce to a minimum the risk of fireescapingwithoutcontrol.

- Valorisetheknowledgeofelders.- Refine/improvethefunctioningofburningcalendars.- Promote greater control over the circulation of lighters /

matchesduringtheburningriskperiod.Rubbishburning - DesignadifferentsystemforwastemanagementCookingfires - EducatetoextinguishcookingfiresbeforeleavinghomePasture management forcattle

- Adopttechniquesthatminimizetheuseoffire.- Make firebreaks in areas dominated by the palm Mauritia

Institutionalactors

Anidealsituationwouldinvolve:

1.AnefficientandfunctionalSISNAMA(SistemaNacionaldoMeioAmbiente)–thiscomprisesagencies and environmental institutions of the Union, the states, themunicipalities and theFederal District,whose primary purpose is to put in place the principles and norms that areimposedbytheconstitution.

2.DialoguewithPBA (PlanoBásicoAmbiental) (plans tomitigateandcompensate impactsofdevelopmentprojects)thataffectIndigenousTerritoriesandotherfederalareas.

3. Indialoguewith Indigenouscommunities,haveadviceandmonitoringbyFUNAIandotherqualifiedsupportersofIndigenouspeople.

4.Indefiningpublicpolicies,relationswiththeNationalCongresswouldbemorefavourableifIndigenous and environmental interest groups had more power compared to the dominantruralistas (bloc of large pro-agrobusiness landowners). It would be very important to haveIndigenousCongressrepresentativesand/orIndigenoussenators.

5.Strengthenacontinuousexchangeofexperienceswithothercountries.

5.2.3 GuyanaTheobjectivesproposedbytheGuyaneseIndigenousgroupwithrelationtothemanagementoffirewerethefollowing:

Inforestfarms:

1) Limitamaximumof3acres(1.20ha)theareaofburninginthefarms.2) Maximizetheefficiencyoftheuseoffarmsandavoidthewaste.3) Each familymusthavea farm inorder to retain traditional knowledgeandapply safe

burningandcultivationpractices.

flexuosa, locally named Buriti (Brazilian term), which hasseveralimportantusesforIndigenouscommunities.

Honeycollection - Develop honey production alternatives and techniques ofcollectionwithouttheuseoffire.

Huntingwithfire - Reactivate old practices and stimulate agreements in thecommunities to use multi-year calendars, preventing drybiomass accumulation and the increased risk of largedevastatingfires.

Fishingwithfire - Promotedialoguewithcommunitiestominimizetheriskoffire.

Insavannas:

1) Practiceearlyburnonforest/savannaboundarytoprotect forest (avoidthehabitatofendangeredRedSiskinbird).

2) Re-enforceinter-communityagreementsonburningofsavannaandsacredforestareas.3) Savannaburnsshouldavoidnestingseasonforbirds.4) Re-enforcepatchburning.

Rulesandgovernance:

1) Re-enforcethetraditionwayofburning.2) Penaltiesenforcedbythevillagecouncil.3) Integrate Indigenous fire management into all government policies that affect

Indigenousterritories.4) Financialresourcesshouldbedirectedtothevillagecouncilsinsteadofindividuals.5) The village council should appoint monitors/community environmental officers to

supportfiremanagement.6) Decentralizationofdecision-makingfromcentralgovernmenttocommunities.

Awarenessandcommunication:

1) Useofmoderntechnologiestomonitortheimpactsoffiremanagemente.g.drones.2) Useof visualapproach (videos,pictures) to recordall traditionalbestpracticesof fire

managementandsharewithothercommunities.3) Continuouspublicserviceannouncementoffirebestpracticesontheradio.4) Educatethecommunitiesinpreventingunnecessaryburning.5) Enforcethebanningoflightersandmatchesforunder18s.

TermsofReference(TOR)forCouncillorinchargeoffiremanagement

1) BeabletocommunicateinEnglishandnativelanguages.2) Shouldbeawareofallenvironmentalpoliciesandlegislations.3) Ensurethatfamiliesdonotexceed3acres(~1.20ha)offarmlandinforestedareas.4) PromoteefficientusageoffarmsandreporttotheCouncil.5) Ensure that the traditional knowledge of safe burning and cultivation practices are

passedon.6) Promoteearlyseasonandpatchburningofsavannas.7) Tohelpre-enforceinter-communityagreements.8) EnsureallfindingsarereportedtotheVillageCouncilandencouragetheenforcementof

penaltieswhereapplicable.9) Educate the communities in preventing the unnecessary burning and enforcing the

banningoflightersandmatchestounder18yearolds.

5.3 ACTIONPLANSFORINDIGENOUSFIREMANAGEMENT_____________________________________________________________________________________

Participantsinthegroupswereaskedtodeveloprealisticwaystomovefromtheircurrentsituation(richpicture)totheiridealsituation(objectives).Thefollowingaretheactionplansdeveloped.

5.3.1 VenezuelaThefollowingaretheagreementsrelativetotheactionplansforthecreationof interculturalIndigenous fire management, and other activities that promote the participation of Pemóncommunities in decision-making and actions together with the Institutions in the CanaimaNationalPark.

1) Recover,strengthenandmakevisibleancestral Indigenousknowledgeandpracticesoftheuseoffire,supportedbyscientificknowledgeandinstitutions.

2) Reformulate curricula in Indigenous schools to include the knowledge and ancestralpracticesofthePemónuseoffire.

3) Schedule inter-institutionaland inter-culturalmeetings in the Indigenouscommunities

usingtraditionalIndigenouswaysandapproaches.

4) Valeriano Constati, President of the Kavanayén elders’ council, will present theproposals generated during this event to a meeting at the end of July in KamaratabetweendifferentPemónCaptains(leaders)ofSector2.Likewise,thePemónmembersoftheBrigadedeAtaqueInicialCarlosTodd,CORPOELEC,willtaketheproposalstotheirrespectivecommunities.

5) CreateCentresofauto-research-action.

6) Request permission from the Venezuelan Corporation of Guayana (CVG, Spanish

acronym),fortheactivationoftheParupaScientificStation(ECP,Spanishacronym)tocreateaTrainingCentre for theuseof scientific and Indigenousancestral knowledge,andtechniquesfromtheinstitutions,for interculturalfiremanagement inthehabitatsoftheIndigenousPemónpeople.

7) SubmitforconsiderationtothePresidencyofINPARQUES,supportforthedevelopment

ofrestorationprojectsinareasdegradedbyfire.

8) Include in futuremeetings other institutions such as CVG,Ministry of Popular Power(MPP) for Indigenous People,MPP of Tourism, Vice-MPP of Science, Technology andInnovation,GranSabanaMunicipality,governorateofBolivarState,amongothers.

9) ExchangeofexperienceswiththecommunityLlanodelHato,locatedintheSierradeLa

Culata National Park, Merida, Venezuela, to promote the participation of Pemón

Indigenous communities in theManagement Plans and Regulation of use of CainamaNationalPark,whichINPARQUEShastodevelopshortly.

5.3.2 Brazil

Proposals from the Brazil group to achieve the objectives for Intercultural Indigenous firemanagement:

1) Organize seminars with PREVFOGO (network of preventing and fighting fires),IndigenouscommunitiesandFUNAI, involvingpossibly theStateandMunicipalities, inorderto:

a) Improve the selection of tenders for Indigenous brigades and promote greater

communityinvolvementwiththeworkoffirefighters.b) Discusshowtomaketheworkof Indigenous fire fighterscontinuethroughout the

yeartoaddresstheissueofpreventionmoredeeply.c) EstablishanetworkofPREVFOGOinIndigenouslandswithownradionetworkusing

alicenseofANATEL,withafrequencyofexclusiveuse.2) Conductseminarsatthelevelofethno-regions(Serras,Raposa,SerradaLua).

The Indigenousparticipantsare responsible to takeaproposal to their regions,and ifapproved, formulate a proposed agenda formeetings with partners including IBAMAandFUNAI:a) Responsibilities:

• Jacir, Dismar, Eusebio: The proposal will be discussed at the end of July 2015, in

Maturuca, ethno-region Serras, on the occasion of the Conferencia Local de PoliticaIndigenista(LocalConferenceofIndigenousPolicy);• Manoel: The proposal will be discussed in Caracaranã, in ethno-region Raposa,

between 18 and 22 July, on the occasion of the Conferencia Local de PoliticaIndigenista(LocalConferenceofIndigenousPolicy);

• Edvilton: The proposal will be discussed in Araça, with the leaders of the ethno-region Serra da Lua, between 14 and 18 July, on the occasion of the ConferenciaLocaldePoliticaIndigenista(LocalConferenceofIndigenousPolicy);

b) Priorityideastobediscussedare:

• Resumetraditional farmsforall familiesasawaytopassonknowledgeabout firemanagement without risk of wildfires, strengthening awareness and empoweringcommunities.

• Useofearlyfires,asfirebreaks,toprotectfromtheriskoffiresincriticalareassuchas buritizais (Mauritia palm communities), forests, headwaters, sacred areas andothers.

• Revive traditional practices like hunting with fire, with agreements between

communities and multi-year calendars, as a means of education in the use ofcontrolledburnstopreventlargefires.

• Discusswastemanagementalternativestoburning,inordertominimizetheriskof

fireandotherassociatedsanitaryandenvironmentalproblems.

• InviteIndigenousrepresentatives(closerelatives)ofVenezuelaandGuyanatotheseseminars.

5.3.3 Guyana

TheplanstoachievetheobjectivesbytheGuyanesegroupwere:

1) PresenttheoutcomeofthemeetingatNRDDB(13-14August2015)andSCPDA/DTC(8August2015)a) AdaptobjectivesandTORofCouncillorofFireManagement

2) Produce and disseminate Policy Guidelines on fire management and promote

Indigenouspractices:a) JayMistrytoproducedraftofPolicyGuidelinesbyNovember2015

b) NRDDBandSCPDAtopresentatregionalHeritagecelebrationinSeptember2015

c) PresentationtoministriesatNationalToshaosCouncil–Jan/Feb2016

d) Produce video on traditional fire management for North and South Rupununi to

presentatNTC–Jan/Feb2016

e) Policy recommendations to include directing financial resources to communitiesinsteadofindividualsanddecentralisedecision-making

3) TolobbyforYouthInitiativeFundingtosupportenvironmentalofficer/monitorpositions

4) ToseekfundingforaprojectonreductionofdeforestationandemissionsbypromotingtraditionalIndigenousfiremanagementpractices:

a) ProposaltoincludetheoutcomeofVenezuela/Brazil/Guyanaexchange

b) Proposal to also include funding for drones, binoculars, tablets, flash cards, radioprogrammes,videos,signboards

c) FundingtobesoughtfromDarwin,EU,GSF,GEFetc.

d) FirstproposaltobesubmittedbyMarch2016

5) Exchange lessons learnt and experiences with Venezuelan/Brazil communities andinstitutionsin2017.

5.4 DECLARATIONOFTHENETWORK

We,members of theParticipatory and Intercultural FireManagement Network, believe thatIndigenous fire management must be integrated into the management of the territories inwhich Indigenous people live and make their livelihoods, using ancestral, traditional andadaptiveIndigenousfireknowledgesupportedbyscientific/academicandinstitutionalpartners.

• RespectIndigenousknowledgeandpracticesrelatingtotheuseoffire.• PromotetheempowermentofIndigenouscommunitiesandtheiractiveparticipationin

decision-making, and allow communities more autonomy with respect to policies,includingtheleadingofprojects(orinitiatives)forfiremanagement.

• EncourageinstitutionstosupportnationalandinternationallevelfundingforIndigenousfiremanagement,forexampletoreducedeforestationandlimitcarbonemissions.

• Promote the use of visual modes of communication for raising awareness andreinforcingtraditionalfirepractices.

6 NEXTSTEPS1) PresentationandrevisionofthereporttothemembersoftheNetwork.Translationto

SpanishandPortuguese.2) Presentationofthepaper:Communityownedsolutionsforfiremanagementintropical

forest and savanna ecosystems: case studies from Indigenous communities of SouthAmerica, by Jayalaxshmi Mistry, Bibiana Bilbao and Andrea Berardi. Translation toSpanishandPortuguese.

3) Organize meetings with representatives of the different organisations involved inIndigenousfiremanagementineachregionorcountry.

4) Developmentof Indigenousparticipatoryvideoprojectsonfiremanagementbasedonthecompilationofthedifferingperspectivesobservedduringtheworkshop.Indigenousrepresentatives present participatory videos developed at workshop to widercommunityforfeedbackandadditionalmaterial.

5) Project website development on COBRA site (www.projectcobra.org). Therewill be adedicatedpagefortheproject,willincludequarterly‘field’reportsonactivities,workingpapers, shortbriefings forpolicymakersandpractitioners, the ‘case’ for implementingIndigenousfiremanagementandparticipatoryvideos.

6) UseremotesensingdataofsomeIndigenousterritoriesinVenezuela,BrazilandGuyanatodevelopvegetation/fuel typeand firescarmapsbasedon Indigenousandscientificknowledgetoassessfireextentandimpact.

7 APPENDICES

7.1 APPENDIX1LISTOFPARTICIPANTS

Country LastName FirstName Institution

1 BRAZIL AndrédeSouza Dismar Indígena Macuxi, CIR – Conselho Indigena de Roraima, ComunidadeMaturuca,EtnoregiãoSerras,TerraIndigenaRaposaSerradoSol,Roraima

2 BRAZIL Benevides Sandro CentroNacionaldePrevençãoeCombateaosIncêndios–Prevfogo, InstitutoBrasileirodoMeioAmbienteeRecursosNaturaisRenovaveis–IBAMA,Brasil

3 BRAZIL deSouzaFilho JacirJosé Indígena Macuxi, CIR – Conselho Indigena de Roraima, ComunidadeMaturuca,EtnoregiãoSerras,TerraIndigenaRaposaSerradoSol,Roraima

4 BRAZIL deSouzaOliveira Eusebio Indígena Macuxi, CIR – Conselho Indigena de Roraima, Comunidade Lage,EtnoregiãoSerras,TerraIndigenaRaposaSerradoSol,Roraima

5 BRAZIL Gross Tony ISA,InstitutoSocioambientalduBrasil

6 BRAZIL Lauriola Vincenzo InstitutoNacionaldePesquisadaAmazônia,NucleodeApoioàPesquisadeRoraima,MinistériodeCiência,TecnologiaeInovação–MCTI

7 BRAZIL LourençoSilveira Edevilton Indígena Wapichana, CIR – Conselho Indigena de Roraima, Comunidade eTerraIndigenaMalacacheta,EtnoregiãoSerradaLua,Roraima

8 BRAZIL Oliveira AdiraciNúcleo de Comunicação e Educação Ambiental do Centro Nacional dePrevençãoeCombate aos Incêndios –Prevfogo, InstitutoBrasileirodoMeioAmbienteeRecursosNaturaisRenovaveis–IBAMA,Brasil

9 BRAZIL RodriguesJati Sewbert FundaçãoNacionaldo Indio,MinistériodaJustiça,CoordenaçãoRegionaldeRoraima

10 BRAZIL Trajano Manoel Indígena Macuxi, CIR – Conselho Indigena de Roraima, ComunidadeNormandia,EtnoregiãoRaposa,TerraIndigenaRaposaSerradoSol,Roraima

11 BRAZIL Txucarramae Megaron InstitutoRaoniXingu,Brasil

12 BRAZIL Txucarramae BemokTxucarramae InstitutoRaoniXingu,Brasil

13 GUYANA Albert Grace NorthRupununniDistrictDevelopmentBoard,Annai,Region9

14 GUYANA Buckley Cedrick SouthCentralPeoplesDevelopmentAssociation(SCPDA)

15 GUYANA Fredericks Faye SouthCentralPeoplesDevelopmentAssociation(SCPDA)

16 GUYANA Haynes Lakeram NorthRupununniDistrictDevelopmentBoard,Annai,Region9

17 GUYANA Williams Mike NorthRupununniDistrictDevelopmentBoard,Annai,Region9

18 UNITEDKINGDOM Berardi Andrea TheOpenUniversity

19 UNITEDKINGDOM Mistry Jay RoyalHallowayUniversityLondon

20 VENEZUELA Acosta Javier Intituto Nacional de Parques. Ministerio del Poder Popular para elEcosocialismoyAguas

21 VENEZUELA Albesiano Anabella DepartamentodeEstudiosAmbientales.UniversidadSimónBolívar

22 VENEZUELA AsizaCayupare JedewanadiHector UniversidadNacionalExperimentalIndígenadelTauca(UNEIT).

23 VENEZUELA Ayuso Nestor Brigada de Ataque Contra Incendios Carlos Todd. Corporación EléctricaNacional

24 VENEZUELA Bilbao Bibiana DepartamentodeEstudiosAmbientales.UniversidadSimónBolívar

25 VENEZUELA BolívarAcosta Yirla CorporaciónEléctricaNacional.MinisteriodelPoderPopularpara laEnergíaEléctrica

26 VENEZUELA Cáceres Alicia InstitutodeBiologíaExperimental.UniversidadCentraldeVenezuela

27 VENEZUELA Chacón Noemí CentrodeEcología.InstitutoVenezolanodeInvestigacionesCientíficas(IVIC)

28 VENEZUELA Chani Humberto EstaciónCientíficaParupaCVG

29 VENEZUELA Contasti Mariana Escuela Técnica Agropecuaria (ETAK), Comunidad Pemón Arekuna, SantaTeresitadeKavanayén,MunicipioGranSabana

30 VENEZUELA Contasti Valeriano Presidente,ConsejodeAncianosComunidadPemónArekuna,SantaTeresitadeKavanayén,MunicipioGranSabana

31 VENEZUELA Fernández Sexto Brigada de Ataque Contra Incendios Carlos Todd. Corporación EléctricaNacional-CORPOELEC

32 VENEZUELA Fernández Gabriel Brigada de Ataque Contra Incendios Carlos Todd. Corporación EléctricaNacional-CORPOELEC

33 VENEZUELA García Argelia IntitutoNacionaldeParques.MinisteriodelPoderPopularparaelEcosocialismoyAguas

34 VENEZUELA Lambós Cesar Infocentro Comunidad Pemón Arekuna, Santa Teresita de Kavanayén,MunicipioGranSabana

35 VENEZUELA Lambós Filiberto Capitán de la Comunidad Pemón Arekuna, Santa Teresita de Kavanayén,MunicipioGranSabana

36 VENEZUELA Lira Pablo Intituto Nacional de Parques. Ministerio del Poder Popular para elEcosocialismoyAguas

37 VENEZUELA Loyola Candelaria Intituto Nacional de Parques. Ministerio del Poder Popular para elEcosocialismoyAguas

38 VENEZUELA Maldonado Ana DirectoraGeneral,IntitutoNacionaldeParques.MinisteriodelPoderPopularparaelEcosocialismoyAguas

39 VENEZUELA Marín Sofía DepartamentodeEstudiosAmbientales.UniversidadSimónBolívar

40 VENEZUELA Márquez Milagro Escuela Técnica Agropecuaria (ETAK), Comunidad Pemón Arekuna, SantaTeresitadeKavanayén,MunicipioGranSabana

41 VENEZUELA Matany Miguel Primer Comandante, Intituto Nacional de Parques. Ministerio del PoderPopularparaelEcosocialismoyAguas

42 VENEZUELA Meza Enrique Intituto Nacional de Parques. Ministerio del Poder Popular para elEcosocialismoyAguas

43 VENEZUELA Millán Adriana DepartamentodeEstudiosAmbientales.UniversidadSimónBolívar

44 VENEZUELA Mosonyi EstebanEmilio RectorUniversidadNacionalExperimentalIndígenadelTauca(UNEIT)

45 VENEZUELA Pérez Francisco Escuela Técnica Agropecuaria (ETAK), Comunidad Pemón Arekuna, SantaTeresitadeKavanayén,MunicipioGranSabana

46 VENEZUELA Pinzón Bienvenido Intituto Nacional de Parques. Ministerio del Poder Popular para elEcosocialismoyAguas

47 VENEZUELA Ramírez Leonardo Brigada de Ataque Contra Incendios Carlos Todd. Corporación EléctricaNacional-CORPOELEC

48 VENEZUELA Rivera Elizabeth DepartamentodeEstudiosAmbientales.UniversidadSimónBolívar

49 VENEZUELA RiveraLombardi Roberto Instituto de Geografía y Desarrollo Regional. Universidad Central deVenezuela

50 VENEZUELA RodriguezS. Hector M. EstaciónCientíficaParupaCVG

51 VENEZUELA Rubio José Intituto Nacional de Parques. Ministerio del Poder Popular para elEcosocialismoyAguas

52 VENEZUELA Salazar Narciso Brigada de Ataque Contra Incendios Carlos Todd. Corporación EléctricaNacional-CORPOELEC

53 VENEZUELA Santarem Francisco UniversidadBolivarianadeVenezuela.NúcleoGranSabana

54 VENEZUELA Sivira Anays Intituto Nacional de Parques. Ministerio del Poder Popular para elEcosocialismoyAguas

55 VENEZUELA Sosa Rosa Escuela Técnica Agropecuaria (ETAK), Comunidad Pemón Arekuna, SantaTeresitadeKavanayén,MunicipioGranSabana

56 VENEZUELA

Sousa

Isabel Escuela Técnica Agropecuaria (ETAK), Comunidad Pemón Arekuna, SantaTeresitadeKavanayén,MunicipioGranSabana

57 VENEZUELA Sousa Romario Escuela Técnica Agropecuaria (ETAK), Comunidad Pemón Arekuna, SantaTeresitadeKavanayén,MunicipioGranSabana

58 VENEZUELA Tietz Paul Intituto Nacional de Parques. Ministerio del Poder Popular para elEcosocialismoyAguas

59 VENEZUELA Williams León Brigada de Ataque Contra Incendios Carlos Todd. Corporación EléctricaNacional-CORPOELEC

60 VENEZUELA Zambrano Eduardo DepartamentodeEstudiosAmbientales.UniversidadSimónBolívar