10 - Wildfire policies contribution to foster extreme wildfires

Abstract

The genesis, evolution, and persistence of wildfire regulation policies and how misguided approaches are self-reinforced without due consideration or understanding of the roots and dynamics of the problem to be tackled are presented. Recommendations to replace fire exclusion policies with integrated fire management have been proposed over time, but their acceptance and degree of adoption have varied substantially. Persistence in seeing wildfire as a natural hazard and not as a multifaceted and complex social-ecological process shows how problem definition has a lasting influence on the decision-making process. A number of factors maintain the status quo of wildfire policies, mostly in the realm of social and political expectations and pressures, namely, preference given to short-term results, ignorance of risk management concepts, conflicting goals for resources management, institutional inertia or instability, and split responsibilities among agencies. General principles are presented for developing and implementing more effective and sustainable fire management policies.