Wildfire governance in a changing world: Insights for policy learning and policy transfer

Abstract

AbstractSocieties must learn to live with, and adapt to wildfire risk. Here we examine wildfire governance and policy in British Columbia (BC), Canada over the last two decades, to examine how policy lessons are drawn from wildfire events. We focus on independent reviews and their recommendations provided, lessons learned from abroad, and whether policy and governance has changed (or not). Jurisdictional and intercultural issues in BC's wildfire response are outlined in this paper, and opportunities for innovative solutions are examined. We then present a case study of the Tsilhqot'in Fire Management program to demonstrate how Indigenous Fire Management is being revitalized as a proactive solution to wildfire. Our intent is to reveal why policy learning and transfer from Indigenous peoples is increasing in this context, and we identify how this is occurring. Barriers to implementation are outlined, and implications for wildfire governance in BC and globally are discussed.