Coexisting with wildfire: strengthening collective capacity by changing the status quo
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Author / Producer
Date
2024
Publication Type
Journal Article
ETH Bibliography
no
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Abstract
This article is the fuller written version of the invited closing plenary given by the author at the 10th International Fire Ecology and Management Congress. The article provides a consideration of our capacity to cope, care, and coexist in a fiery world from a social and structural point of view. It focuses on privilege as the root cause of a long and troublesome history within the wildfire profession of not valuing all generational knowledge equally, not treating all cultures with the same respect, not embracing diversity and inclusion, and not affording the same status to all disciplines and voices. The article argues that we can strengthen our collective capacity to coexist with wildfire by embracing local and indigenous fire stewardship practices, by enabling workforce diversity and inclusive leadership culture, and by providing sustainable working conditions for wildland firefighters. To do so requires individual and collective noticing of what is wrong, and everyday action steps towards equity.
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Publication status
published
External links
Editor
Book title
Journal / series
Volume
20 (1)
Pages / Article No.
59
Publisher
SpringerOpen
Event
Edition / version
Methods
Software
Geographic location
Date collected
Date created
Subject
Climate change; Coping capacity; Diversity; Equity; Inclusivity; Privilege; Social science; Structural inequality; Wildfire; Workforce sustainability
Organisational unit
03515 - Wenger, Andreas / Wenger, Andreas
Notes
Funding
213621 - Building Wildfire Resilient Communities in Europe (FiRES) (SNF)