Abstract
Background: Coastal Norwegian heathlands have been regularly managed by burning for about 5000 years. This practice, supporting sustainable herbivore production, did, however, seize in the 1950s and was virtually absent for 60–70 years. Loss of biodiversity, increased fire hazard due to biomass accumulation and loss of visual landscape qualities recently propelled new interest in traditional landscape management. Loss of know-how makes this a dangerous activity. The present study focuses on the emergence and learning processes of a civic group established for resuming prescribed burning in Northern Rogaland in order to possibly assist similar initiatives elsewhere. Methods: Study of written information, interviews with core prescribed burners and participant observation have been undertaken. The topics at four annual prescribed burning seminars, arranged by the studied civic group, have been analyzed. Participant observation at civic group winter meetings, debriefing sessions and field work has also been undertaken. Results: Pioneers who, without guidance, resumed prescribed burning relied on experience gained as part-time firefighters and relations to farming, in particular sheep grazing. Building good relations with local fire brigades and support by local and regional environmental authorities (especially the local agricultural advisory office) enhanced the practice. Short weather window, assembling a big enough burner group on the working days, as well as possible liability issues were identified as challenges. They were self-taught through “learning by doing” and open to new technologies/artifacts, i.e., leaf blowers for fire control. Their use of artifacts, together with supporting the fire brigades during a wildfire, strengthened their group identity. A connection to academia improved the focus on safe and effective prescribed burning through deeper insight into the physical parameters that govern burning in the terrain. Conclusions: The study provides valuable insight into favorable preconditions and possible key personnel for resuming prescribed burning in other areas in Norway and elsewhere. Content and teaching methods for a possible future standardized prescribed heathland burning course are suggested.
Highlights
Understanding and accepting the role of fire in ecosystems may be culturally influenced
The County’s environmental administration’s subsidy scheme for endangered habitats, funding for activities enhancing landscape qualities in terms of view, as well as other, less specified available funding (“SMIL-midler”: Special Environmental Measures in Agriculture) has enabled funding for land owners, civic groups and associations to safely resume the heathland management
There are mainly three groups of documents available, i.e., (i) documents related to the project “See Haugalandet”, (ii) documents related to burning around a hut “Kringsjå”, see Figure 3, belonging to the local International Organization of Good Templars (IOGT) and (iii) documents covering the development of a wildfire (Hetlandsbrannen) in 2019, which started when prescribed burning got out of control
Summary
Understanding and accepting the role of fire in ecosystems may be culturally influenced. The Fire Brigades claim that “To prepare for megafires, we don’t need more resources, we need better managed landscapes” [15] Despite this situation, prescribed burning as a means of wildfire prevention/control is highly controversial in this region. The unusually warm summer in 2018, where 2079 fires occurred [21], influenced public opinion in favor of prescribed burning. Possible findings may inform other parts of Norway, Europe, USA, Europe and South Africa, in ways to develop safe and effective heathland prescribed burning groups. The learning process undertaken by the studied group can provide valuable insights towards the development of a standardized course in Norwegian heathland restoration by prescribed burning. The article is a contribution to the domain of learning in the context of civic groups, in order to perform safe environmental management and sustainable agriculture
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