E-Thesis 127 views 39 downloads
Public perceptions of wildfire in Great Britain: case studies from Wales, England and Scotland / ROSIE WATTS
Swansea University Author: ROSIE WATTS
DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUThesis.67749
Abstract
Wildfires pose significant risk to the environment and society of Great Britain, a threat that remains largely unrecognized by the public. The sheer number of vegetation fires, although mostly small, exert significant pressure on Fire and Rescue Services and environmental management organisations. T...
| Published: |
Swansea University, Wales, UK
2024
|
|---|---|
| Institution: | Swansea University |
| Degree level: | Doctoral |
| Degree name: | Ph.D |
| Supervisor: | Halfacree, K., Doerr, S., and Santín, C. |
| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67749 |
| Abstract: |
Wildfires pose significant risk to the environment and society of Great Britain, a threat that remains largely unrecognized by the public. The sheer number of vegetation fires, although mostly small, exert significant pressure on Fire and Rescue Services and environmental management organisations. They present unique challenges, including being an emerging and under-researched issue.This exploratory research project aimed to address underexplored areas of the public’s understanding of local wildfire hazards and ascertain the relevance to them. Given the highly contextual nature of wildfires, a case study approach was employed, encompassing three locations: the South Wales Valleys, Dorset in England, and the Highlands in Scotland. It collected survey data on risk perception and awareness, as well as attitudes towards prescribed fire.Underscoring the perceptions of risk was local knowledge, where many residents were strongly connected to the locality. Across locations there was a characteristic subgroup with significant concern regarding wildfire in their area, and then a smaller subgroup concerned for themselves personally. The predominant sentiment was concern for “other’s” and typically the non-human. However, despite a perceived lack of direct impacts, consequences were not entirely negated, through care for the area and nature; this indirect concern presents an avenue for fostering engagement. Notably, the study also identified a group that exhibited little or no concern, with some disputing the applicability of the term "wildfire" to the British context. Regarding acceptability of fire there was mostly partial acceptance, although there are some stronger views in favour particularly where there is a perceived necessity or understanding of the benefits. The disagreement and uncertainty demonstrated a lack of knowledge of outcomes and conflation with wildfire phenomena. Overall, the findings highlight gaps in knowledge and the need for localised information to establish greater relevance of risks to the public. |
|---|---|
| Item Description: |
A selection of content is redacted or is partially redacted from this thesis to protect sensitive and personal information. |
| Keywords: |
Wildfire, Hazards, Prescribed fire, Perceptions |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
ESRC Doctoral Training Grant |