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FIREWISE COMMUNITIES
An Introduction to Firewise Communities
Communities are more than places where people live, work, and raise their children. They are the relationships, partnerships, attitudes, and values that bind people, businesses, organizations and agencies together and motivate them to achieve common goals.
A stable community provides a sense of security, serenity, comfort, and neighbourliness. Upholding the African values of Ubuntu, by integrating personal commitment and collective community action, is an ethic entrenched within the FIREWISE Communities programme.
A disaster can happen in any community. Some have first-hand knowledge of life threatening flash-floods or highly destructive tropical storms, while others may be more aware of damage caused by severe winter storms. Most people do not think of wildfire as a natural disaster they can effectively protect against. But there are things each of us can do to prepare for and lessen the effects of catastrophic veld fires.
As no place can be totally safe from fire or other natural events, we need to be a little smarter - wiser - in the way things are done. Wider roads, better water supply, improved settlement planning and so on, make up communities in which FIREWISE activities become part of daily life.
Most unwanted veld fires are caused by people, and the impacts are worsened by nature, unless the community is prepared. In rural areas with high unemployment and poverty, FIREWISE communities can cope better with seasonal challenges, lessening the negative impacts on livelihoods and thus the effects of spiraling poverty. Communities designed with FIREWISE concepts help preserve homes, a cherished lifestyle, natural settings. FIREWISE Communities are safer places for people to live, benefiting the landscape and wildlife as well as people for wildlife and recreation, incredible vistas and improved agricultural yields.
FIREWISE designs are also good business. Protecting collateral and investments, reducing risks and avoiding loss will increase property values and save lives. Being FIREWISE means leveraging fire protection and maximizing community and landusers' values.
To download the Firewise Communities Workshop Participant Workbook visit our resources page;
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