Postwildfire Landscape Identity in Mediterranean Ecosystems: Three Study Cases from the Coastal Range of Central Chile

Abstract

Mediterranean ecosystems have been more frequently exposed to wildfires in recent decades. Those wildfires are caused by changes in land use and land cover that enable extensive forestry and farming. This qualitative research investigates a changing landscape identity related to a subjective perception after cyclical and seasonal wildfires (2012–2017). In this regard, we conducted twelve semistructured interviews among inhabitants from Quillón, Florida, and Yumbel (Mediterranean central Chile). The questions considered elements of the visual landscape, perception, identity, and management policies regarding landscape. Consequently, the core results of the research are the following: (1) Loss of traditional livelihood becomes more important than the damage of physical characteristics of a landscape (land cover, vegetation, and aesthetic features); (2) the relationship between the individual’s perception of the landscape and the identity of the landscape changed drastically, especially before and after 2017 where wildfires followed patterns that were predicted by inhabitants; and (3) the community’s expectations concerning reconstruction aid from the government were turned into frustration and feelings of helplessness. Considering this information, we suggest that a landscape identity is a holistic approach that helps us to understand the changes generated by fire disturbance in biophysical, social, and economic aspects.