LocationsA new UNDP initiative combines modern equipment with community networks to protect the country's forests, which cover more than 40% of its territory.
Belarus Confronts Forest Fires with Chinese Support as Climate Challenges Mount
September 18, 2025
Pavel Verteyko, Chief Forester of the Zhlobin Forestry, Gomel region, Belarus
Photo: UNDP in Belarus
Pavel Verteyko still remembers the tragic hours of 3 August 2014. Just two days after his wedding, the newly appointed Chief Forester for the Zhlobin Forestry found himself on the front lines of a complex blaze that tore through 65 hectares of a young forest.
Forest fire inferno.
Photo: Ministry of Forestry of Belarus/UNDP in Belarus
"The conditions were extremely dangerous," Pavel recalls. "The blaze spread with startling speed, consuming everything in two to three hours. The dense, low-height forest forced crews to abandon heavy machinery and retreat. Animals were fleeing in all directions." Faced with the advancing flames, Pavel and his senior colleague made a crucial decision to start a backfire – burning fuel ahead of the main blaze despite having no prior experience with this high-risk tactic.
More than a decade later, Pavel's experience highlights the challenges facing Belarus's forest protection services. The country, where woods cover more than 40% of the territory, is grappling with increasing fire risks as climate patterns shift. According to Belarus’ Ministry of Forestry, the first six months of 2025 alone saw 1,220 hectares destroyed by fire.
Belarusian pine forest.
Photo: UNDP in Belarus
It is against this backdrop that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched a project “Safeguarding Forests of Belarus: A Comprehensive Fire Preparedness Initiative for Community-Based Fire Prevention and Response”, supported by China through Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund. The project is a good example of South-South cooperation, combining modern equipment provision with community-based prevention strategies in Belarus' most fire-prone regions of Brest and Gomel.
Photo: UNDP in Belarus
Central to the approach is the procurement of essential firefighting equipment, including pumps, generators, protective gear, and, crucially, reliable communication systems. This focus on technological upgrades directly addresses operational challenges that foresters like Pavel Verteyko face in the field.
Foresters and firefighters often work in remote areas where mobile phone reception is unreliable, making radio communication indispensable for coordinating operations. "The radios provide the primary means for the fire commander to relay instructions – directing personnel on the flanks, managing the rear of the fire line, and guiding heavy machinery operators to safe positions," Pavel explains.
The initiative also provides specialized backpacks sprayers (portable fire suppression units), allowing response teams quickly suppress small fires and hot spots.
Beyond equipment, UNDP’s project adopts a community-centered approach, integrating technology with awareness-raising efforts. It aims to establish local volunteer networks at each project site, enabling rapid response and seamless coordination with professional fire services.
Forestry green schools educate youth on forest fire prevention and environmental stewardship.
Photo: UNDP in Belarus
This focus reflects a growing recognition that effective fire management requires more than professional services alone. By equipping local communities with knowledge of early detection and timely reporting, the project seeks to prevent minor incidents from escalating into major blazes.
The project arrives as Belarus confronts new challenges, including the emergence of uncommon winter fires alongside new seasonal risks, characterized by prolonged dry periods and increasingly unpredictable rainfall patterns. These evolving conditions underscore the importance of adaptive fire management strategies that can respond to changing climate patterns.
Pavel is optimistic about the tangible benefits the international collaboration will bring. "This project focuses on safeguarding forests and engaging local volunteers," he says. "The new equipment is expected to improve response times, enhance monitoring patrols, and generally strengthen forest firefighting and protection efforts."
His colleagues share this optimism, anticipating more precise, coordinated operations and improved decision-making.
For UNDP, the project “Safeguarding Forests of Belarus: A Comprehensive Fire Preparedness Initiative for Community-Based Fire Prevention and Response” exemplifies how South-South cooperation can expand development effectiveness by harnessing collective capabilities across partners. The collaboration strengthens nations' self-reliance while contributing to broader international cooperation in addressing global environmental challenges.
Photo: UNDP in Belarus
For Pavel, whose career is defined by safeguarding forests, the project reinforces the core principle of his profession. "Protecting nature's gifts for future generations is our profession's essential goal," he reflects. During the times of mounting environmental pressures, such partnerships between international organizations, governments, and local communities may prove increasingly vital.
The Belarus project, while focused on a specific region, represents part of the UNDP's broader commitment to ensuring no one is left behind in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. As forest fires become more frequent and severe globally, the lessons learned from the project could inform similar efforts across other fire-prone regions worldwide.
Related
content
content
