14th Fire Management Symposium South Africa

14th Fire Management Symposium South Africa

The Forestry Department of the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) will be hosting its 14th Fire Management Symposium on 6 to 8 November 2024 at the Halliwell Country Inn, Karkloof region, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The theme will be ‘Educating and training for effective wildfire management’.

Background and purpose

Globally, effective wildfire management is impeded by a lack of integration between research results, technological development and efforts by fire managers. In the end, all role-players on the wildfire stage strive to prevent, suppress and protect the environment, human wellbeing and assets against wildfire.

This event aims to integrate the efforts of natural resource managers, engineers, fire managers, educators/trainers and scientists. Through an integrated approach, different role-players will be sensitised about each other’s realities, successes and failures.

Understanding the needs and gaps within organisations involved in wildfire management will open up new avenues that will support the fire management effort.

You are therefore invited to join fire managers and authorities from different disciplines and land uses ie nature conservation, agriculture, disaster management, forestry, local authorities, etc, for a range of informative presentations, and exciting networking opportunities.

Focus

In addition to technical developments, new inventions and improved fire management methods, education and training to implement these cannot stay behind. This raises the following questions: “What training/education do we need, who will provide this, who need to be educated and trained and how do we pay for it?”

Programme

The 2024 Fire Management Symposium promises to be a special event. Not only because of the unique setting of the venue in the heart of the scenic Karkloof region but because of the conglomeration of toprated international and local fire management specialists and service providers who will share their expertise in a very practical and applied manner.

On the first day of this event the focus will be on the education and training needs that exist in our industries. Organisations will express their needs and providers will explain how these needs can be addressed.

The second day of the event, hosted by The KwaZulu-Natal Fire Protection Association (KZNFPA), will provide opportunities to visit fire management activities, scenery and cultural attractions and view some of the latest technology, tools and equipment.

A gala dinner on the evening of the second day will allow networking opportunities for guests. On the final day of the event Fire management topics dealing with protection, prevention and suppression will make up the programme.

In general

This event presents opportunities to people from different entities, management levels and parts of South Due to the capacity of the venue only 200 delegates can be accommodated for the event. Cost to attend the whole event (Including lunches, field day and gala dinner), amounts to ± R3 50000pp. The venue host will spoil us with local cuisine with live music.

For more information contact

Tiaan Pool

Email: tiaan.pool@mandela.ac.za

Cell: 072 374 2347

Hannes van Zyl at Hannes

Email: vanZyl@mandela.ac.za

Cell: 072 733 1692

Sonia Roets

Email: sonia.roets@mandela.ac.za

Tel: 044 801 5091.