Representatives of the Korea Forest Service, the French government and the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization attend the second steering committee meeting for the Forest Fire Management in Asia project in France during the Korean officials’ Oct. 1-3 visit.
The Korea Forest Service (KFS) has announced an expansion of its partnership with the French government and the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO) to enhance wildfire response training across Asia. This agreement was reached during the second steering committee meeting for the Forest Fire Management in Asia (FFMA) project, which took place from October 1 to 3 in France.
During the meeting, representatives evaluated the project’s first year, discussing the training sessions that have already occurred in Thailand, Indonesia, and Kazakhstan. They also outlined plans and budget considerations for 2027.
Participants expressed a commitment to broaden training programs and the development of wildfire specialists. They aim to include more countries and partner institutions in the initiative, ultimately seeking to elevate the FFMA into a significant international cooperation program.
Korean officials also engaged in discussions with their French counterparts about wildfire prevention policies and frameworks for international collaboration in wildfire response. The meeting explored ways to integrate Korea’s wildfire management experience with France’s educational expertise.
On a related note, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Seoul National University, France’s Paris Sciences et Lettres University, and AFoCO. This agreement establishes a scholarship program for dual master’s degrees, with plans to select four scholarship recipients by September 2027.
Lee Hyun-joo, director of international cooperation at KFS, emphasized the necessity of international collaboration in light of the increasing frequency of large wildfires. He stated, “By combining Korea’s wildfire response experience, France’s expertise in education and training, and AFoCO’s regional network, we will develop the FFMA into a flagship initiative for global cooperation on wildfire management.”
