XFIRE

INNOVATION
CHALLENGE
To seeks scalable technological solutions to suppress large
wildfires in Southeast Asia’s inland and peatland forests.

The winning team will transform firefighting in remote forests with

solution which can be deployed from a permanent or mobile base
to a distance of 50 km within four hours in bad air quality, and
suppress a large fire (>50-hectare) in 48 hours. This aims to
reduce deforestation, carbon emission, respiratory health issues
and economic loss caused by forest fires and resultant haze.

TWO FOCUS AREAS:

Inland Forest Peatland Forest

THREE PHASES:

Online written and Online submission of One-week on-site

video submission technical description lab with testing
explaining the concept, and video showing a facility; may involve
technology, set up and prototype, how it suppressing real
pre-conditions  works and ease of forest fires
deployment

Proof of Concept Prototype Pilot Testing

September-December 2018 April-August 2019 January-April 2020

WHY THE CHALLENGE?

Current methods of suppressing forest fires include using
retardant, fire barriers, re-wetting peatland, water
bombing and cloud seeding. However, these methods can
be dangerous, costly, weather dependent, slow and
ineffective in remote and difficult terrains.

WHO IS ORGANISING THIS? 

The challenge is organised by WWF-Malaysia in
collaboration with Malaysian Global Innovation
and Creativity Centre (MaGIC), Institute of
Tropical Forestry and Forest Products (INTROP)
Universiti Putra Malaysia’s (UPM) and Sabah
Forestry Department (SFD). Sabah Forestry
Department

INNOVATE FOR NATURE

 HOW IS THE FOREST FIRE SITUATION LIKE IN
MALAYSIA / SOUTHEAST ASIA?

2000 to 4000
number of hotspots in Malaysia from
2008 to 2015 per year.  Number in the
last two years was slightly lower due
to more rainfall than usual

2.6 million Forest areas destroyed by

hectares of forest, peat and other fires in Sabah
land were burnt in Indonesia alone
in 2015 1982/1983 1 million ha

USD 16 billion 1997/1998 190,000 ha

2006
economic cost estimated by
World Bank
20,000 ha

 
WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF FOREST FIRES? 
Society
The air pollutants affects people’s respiratory system, health, livelihoods
and lifestyle; in extreme cases, closure of schools and airports.

Economic
It can directly and indirectly cause loss of property and crops; income
and productivity may be affected.

Environment
It releases large amount of greenhouse gas; subsequently converting
forest from a carbon sink to a carbon source. Few native plants and
animals in Southeast Asian tropical forest are adapted to cope with fire.

USD100,000 cash + Accelerator support

Phase 3 + Potential impact investment/pilot
W contract

I
N
N Phase 2 An all-expenses paid trip to Sabah for Phase 3

E lab + testing

R
Phase 1 Nominal financial support for prototyping (USD5,000 to be divided
 
among the finalists selected to enter Phase 2)

WHAT ARE THE JUDGING CRITERIA? 

It can be deployed
It is safe to from a permanent or Scalable across
It must be novel and mobile base to a
firefighters, public and distance Southeast Asia in
has not yet been has minimal to zero within 4 hours of 50 km terms of costs,
commercialised nett negative impact weather conditions,in any effectiveness and
on the environment and suppress a large viability
fire (> 50-hectare) in
48 hours

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE? 

Open to the public both local and international
Applicants can be an individual, team, startup or research/educational institution
Participants must be 18 years of age or older

How to participate?
MagicActivate.com/challenge/12