On 8 June 2026, PhD candidate Débora Dutra (National Institute for Space Research – INPE) attended the launch event of the Minas Gerais State Wildfire Management Plan (2026–2031), representing researchers from INPE who contributed to the scientific evidence and operational data incorporated into the plan.
Minas Gerais is a significant state for Brazil’s agricultural and mining sectors and for the country’s economy. It is home to more than 21 million people and produces around 9% of Brazil’s GDP, with major sector including coffee, dairy, minerals and forest products.
The state’s new Wildfire Management Plan was developed through a collaborative effort led by the Minas Gerais State Government, bringing together the State Fire Department (CBMMG), environmental agencies, public security institutions, universities, and civil society organizations from the State. The initiative aims to strengthen wildfire risk management, territorial intelligence, interinstitutional governance, and climate adaptation strategies in response to the growing challenges posed by climate change.
A key scientific contribution incorporated into the plan comes from the Fogo em Foco report, coordinated by Dr. Liana Anderson (INPE), associated research of the State of Wildfire project, and developed in partnership with the BRASA network and Brazilian Military Fire Fighters. The report provides a comprehensive assessment of wildfire activity and impacts across Brazil, supporting evidence-based decision-making for fire management and risk reduction.
Fogo em Foco is one of the science-to-policy initiatives associated with the State of Wildfire project, translating scientific knowledge into practical information for end users, including military firefighters, governments, emergency agencies, and environmental managers. The report includes downscaled State of Wildfires data, providing municipal-level rankings and indicators of burned area and fire activity produced by the State of Wildfires project. Those metrics were incorporated into the Minas Gerais State Wildfire Management Plan to help identify priority regions and guide prevention, preparedness, and response strategies.
The plan also highlights the role of operational monitoring systems developed by INPE, including PRODES, DETER, the Queimadas Program, and the INPE´s Situation Room, which provide essential information for environmental monitoring and wildfire management throughout Brazil.
The incorporation of results from Fogo em Foco into the Minas Gerais State Wildfire Management Plan demonstrates how scientific research can directly support public policy development and strengthen wildfire governance in a changing climate.
The Minas Gerais State Wildfire Management Plan (2026–2031) is available at: https://www.mg.gov.br/system/files/media/defesacivil/documento_detalhado/2026/plano-estadual-de-enfrentamento-aos-incendios-florestais-2026-2031.pdf
Thew news on INPE´s page is available at: https://www.gov.br/inpe/pt-br/assuntos/ultimas-noticias/programa-queimadas-do-inpe-contribui-para-plano-estadual-de-enfrentamento-aos-incendios-florestais-de-minas-gerais
