The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA) organized the sixth regional workshop for the development of the National Fire Policy (PNF) in Quetzaltenango this week. The event brought together participants from the departments of Quetzaltenango, Retalhuleu, San Marcos, and Suchitepéquez.
This series of workshops is part of a national effort led by MAGA to create a comprehensive policy on fire management. Previous sessions have been held in Central, Northern, Northeastern, Southeastern, and Northwestern regions. The latest workshop focused on the Southwestern region.
Representatives from government institutions, municipal authorities, community organizations, producers, private sector representatives, civil society groups, and international cooperation agencies attended the meeting. Participants worked together to identify key challenges related to fire use in agricultural and forestry systems.
The session included work on developing a Problem Tree—a technical tool that will help guide future strategies for prevention, management, and response within the National Fire Policy. Local contributions and multisectoral analysis were highlighted as valuable elements that informed the process with direct input from the southwestern region.
Technical support was provided by specialists from MAGA’s Directorate of Geospatial Information, Strategy and Risk Management (DIGEGR), its Planning Directorate, local teams in Quetzaltenango, and professionals from FAO.
With six workshops now completed across various regions as part of a nationwide consultation process, organizers say these meetings have enriched the draft policy. The forthcoming National Fire Policy aims to strengthen risk prevention efforts, protect natural resources, improve climate resilience, and contribute to food security in Guatemala.
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