Local Ecological Knowledge and Fire Management: What Does the Public Understand? (original) (raw)
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International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021
Wildfires represent a natural phenomenon with detrimental effects on natural resources and human health. A better knowledge, perception, and awareness of wildfire risk may help communities at risk of exposure to prevent future events and safeguard their own lives. The aim of this study is to explore differences between individuals with and without previous wildfire experience, in terms of (1) subjective and advanced wildfire knowledge, (2) self-reported perceptions, (3) level of information, (4) self-protection measures, and (5) importance of community involvement. As a second step, we investigated differences in the same variables, focusing more deeply on a group of individuals with previous wildfire experience, classifying them according to fire-related employment (fire-related workers vs. non-workers) and wildland–urban interface (WUI) proximity (WUI residents vs. non-WUI residents). The Kruskal–Wallis test was applied to establish differences between the pairs of subsamples. Our...
2000
The Public and Wildland Fire Management for managers can be applied in other regions where higher density urban and suburban interface communities abut high fuel-hazard forests. Public education and outreach efforts about fuel-hazard reduction planning need to be increased well in advance of changing forest management. Because our study found that those who were more familiar with techniques, such as prescribed fire, supported them more strongly, managers need to get the word out early about the benefits and risks associated with each technique. Multiple strategies for reaching the public should be considered, including newspapers, television, and radio. After the initial outreach, demonstration projects, such as a small-scale prescribed burn, can be used to increase the public' s experience with new management techniques. Demonstration projects are the perfect setting for teaching the public about the need to manage the forest. Wildland-urban interface communities are different, even in the same region, so managers need to tailor implementation strategies to the particular area. For example, in higher density, less natural
2001
Prescribed fire is an important tool to manage some ecosystems, yet this message is a challenge to communicate to the public. The 2,282 wildfires that burned in Florida in 1998, causing $800 million in lost timber and tourist revenues, underscore the impact of wildfire and the importance of using prescribed fire to ensure public safety. To understand public attitudes, knowledge, and behavioral intentions regarding wildland fire, we reviewed news- paper coverage of the 1998 wildfires and surveyed a random sample of 673 rural and sub- urban Florida residents living in counties experiencing high impacts or low impacts from the fires. The media and the survey respondents reported that the main benefit of prescribed burning was preventing more destructive fires. Media coverage and public opinion differed on the detrimental effects of prescribed burning. The media reported the spread of fire as a primary detriment, whereas the public reported harm to wild animals as the largest problem. Misconceptions about wildlife mortality suggest that simplistic messages of fire prevention campaigns need to be overcome. Proximity to the 1998 wildfires, based on county residence, did not change respondents' views of the benefits and constraints of prescribed burning, or their behavioral intentions toward reducing fire risks in their homes and landscapes. However, experience with prescribed burning and several sociodemographic factors were correlated with positive attitudes and increased knowledge levels
Integrating social science research into wildland fire management
Disaster Prevention and Management, 2014
Purpose-Social science research is used to support the formulation of natural resource management decisions with accurate and timely information. Due to risk and potential impacts, this is important in wildland fire management. The purpose of this paper is to identify the respondent perceptions of a natural disturbance agent's impact on fire management in Colorado and Wyoming. Design/methodology/approach-The research methodology included a self-administered questionnaire completed by a random sample of respondents in three study locations adjacent to national forests. A quantitative analysis was conducted to identify attitudes about fuels management (prescribed fire) and beliefs about fire and fire management. Findings-Respondents viewed prescribed fire favorably and they understand the natural role of fire on the landscape. While results suggest respondents support management of forest conditions to decrease the effects of a wildfire, they do not feel that individuals have a right to expect their home to be protected from fire by land managers, nor do they agree with restricting home building near national forest land. Research limitations/implications-Future research should continue the longitudinal assessment of attitudes toward prescribed fires, incorporating respondent distance to the national forest or identifying respondents living within the wildland-urban interface. Originality/value-This paper illustrates how applied, social science research can meet the needs of agencies and public officials. Results of this paper have been presented to state and federal forestry officials, and members of an executive-level task force in Colorado studying wildfire insurance and forest health.
2011
As the incidence of devastating fires rises, managing the risk posed by these fires has become critical. This report provides important information to examine the ways that different groups or disaster subcultures develop the mentalities or perceived realities that affect their views and responses concerning risk and disaster preparedness. Fire risk beliefs and attitudes of individuals and groups from four geographic areas in the Southwest (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Region 3, Arizona and New Mexico) surrounding the Kaibab, Tonto, Santa Fe, and Lincoln National Forests are presented. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, we collected information from three distinct groups: general public, informed lay public, and local experts. In addition, personal interviews were conducted with a group of policy experts in the science of wildfires and climate change. A primary finding indicates that all of the groups that we interviewed expressed a strong desire for land managers to manage the public lands proactively in order to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire. However, respondents expressed different preferences regarding the management approach that should be used. One important observation was that respondents in each of the three distinct respondent groups prioritized their preferred means of communication differently.
The art of learning: wildfire, amenity migration and local environmental knowledge.
International Journal of Wildland Fire. 2011;20:612
Communicating the need to prepare well in advance of the wildfire season is a strategic priority for wildfire management agencies worldwide. However, there is considerable evidence to suggest that although these agencies invest significant effort towards this objective in the lead up to each wildfire season, landholders in at-risk locations often remain under-prepared. One reason for the poor translation of risk information materials into actual preparation may be attributed to the diversity of people now inhabiting wildfire-prone locations in peri-urban landscapes. These people hold widely varying experiences, beliefs, attitudes and values relating to wildfire, which influence their understanding and interpretation of risk messages -doing so within the constraints of their individual contexts. This paper examines the diversity of types of local environmental knowledge (LEK) present within wildfire-prone landscapes affected by amenityled in-migration in south-east Australia. It investigates the ways people learn and form LEK of wildfire, and how this affects the ability of at-risk individuals to interpret and act on risk communication messages. We propose a practical framework that complements existing risk education mechanisms with engagement and interaction techniques (agencycommunity and within community) that can utilise LEK most effectively and facilitate improved community-wide learning about wildfire and wildfire preparedness.
Scale development of wild-fire management basic beliefs
2003
Understanding how the public feels about fire management issues has become a priority for many natural resource agencies. Based on work on wildlife basic beliefs, we developed scales for measuring basic beliefs about wildfire management. Identification of basic beliefs about wildfire management helps agencies predict public attitudes toward fire policies, norms for agency reactions to wildfire, and fire-related behavior (e.g., creating defensible space). Results supported the existence of wildfire management basic belief dimensions, opening the way for additional research in their development.
2011
The Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture (ATCOFA) at Stephen F. Austin State University is taking a proactive stance toward preparing forestry students to work closely with the public on fire planning in wildland-urban interface areas. ATCOFA's incorporation of the "Changing Roles" curriculum provides lessons on how natural resource managers' roles are (1) different than they used to be, and (2) ever-evolving. The undergraduate Forestry Field Station summer program at the University's Piney Woods Conservation Center now emphasizes the importance and challenges of working with the public. The program brings practicing professionals from the Texas Forest Service to describe the real-world challenges they face in communicating and working effectively with the public in their jobs. The goal is that the ATCOFA students, no matter where they are eventually employed, will understand the importance of taking a proactive role in working with the public on interface-fire planning and will have knowledge and information that makes them more sensitive to the complicated underlying issues in natural resource and wildfire management.
A Multisite Qualitative Comparison of Community Wildfire Risk Perceptions
2012
It is increasingly important that natural resource managers understand residents' perceptions of wildfire risks, particularly as the wildland-urban interface expands. Risk perceptions influence resident risk reduction strategies that are crucial to effective hazard management. This study compares key informant responses about community wildfire risk from five areas of the eastern United States. Perceptions are influenced by ecological characteristics as well as economic and sociodemographic factors. These include, e.g., the proliferation of low-density housing and second home development, local values and norms, and the strength of public services. Despite federal designation of wildfire risk, most informants said their communities were relatively unconcerned about wildfire. In some places, informants noted awareness of wildfire but lack of concern. Findings illustrate how social and cultural characteristics of participants' communities intersected with biophysical elements of wildfire to attenuate risk perceptions. Implications for community wildfire risk mitigation policy are discussed.