Controlled human fire use in landscape management is poorly understood by policymakers and the public, while wildfires get a lot of attention. Yet, these fire use practices are often vital to livelihoods and cultures.
Award: Flexible Funding
Academic: Dr Cathy Smith & Prof Jay Mistry
Department: Geography
Project: Human Fire Use in Landscape Management: Understanding and Advocacy
Context and Underpinning Research
In a world where wildfires dominate headlines, the nuanced role of controlled human fire use in landscape management often remains underappreciated. These practices, integral to many livelihoods and cultures, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), also play a critical role ecologically and in wildfire risk reduction. However, this understanding is not widespread among policymakers and the public.
Project Overview
Our impact project addresses this gap in understanding and data accessibility. We have developed two groundbreaking global datasets that compile ground-level observations of human fire use. Our goal is to make this data easily accessible through the creation of an interactive online dashboard. This platform will serve as a crucial tool for advocates of controlled fire use, including Indigenous groups, policymakers, and scientists forecasting future fire regimes.
Anticipated Outcomes and Impact
The project aims to shift the narrative and understanding of fire use in landscape management. By providing clear, accessible data, we anticipate enhancing the global dialogue on this subject. The interactive dashboard will not only inform but also empower stakeholders in LMICs, enabling them to make data-driven decisions and advocate effectively for controlled fire use practices. Our work seeks to inform more equitable fire policies that recognise the benefits that controlled fire use can have to livelihoods, ecologies, and in reducing wildfire risk.
The Role of Flexible Funding
The Flexible Funding award is pivotal to our project, supporting both the development of the interactive dashboard and the organisation of a series of workshops. These workshops will bring together fire practitioners and academics from LMICs, fostering a collaborative environment to explore the practical applications of our data.
Next Steps: Workshops and Dashboard Launch
We will be running 5 workshops aimed at stakeholders in LMICs in March 2024. These sessions will be instrumental in demonstrating the utility of the dashboard, providing hands-on training, and encouraging feedback for further improvements. Following these workshops, we will officially launch the interactive online dashboard, making our comprehensive data on human fire use available to a wider audience.
Get Involved
We invite you to follow the progress of our project and support our efforts in bringing this vital issue to the forefront. Your engagement and advocacy are essential in transforming how controlled human fire use is perceived and managed globally. Together, we can foster a better understanding and promote sustainable practices in landscape management.
