The art of learning: wildfire, amenity migration and local environmental knowledge
Christine Eriksen A C and Timothy Prior B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A The Australian Centre for Cultural Environmental Research, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
B Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: livingwithfire@gmail.com
International Journal of Wildland Fire 20(4) 612-624 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF10018
Submitted: 8 February 2010 Accepted: 29 September 2010 Published: 20 June 2011
Abstract
Communicating the need to prepare well in advance of the wildfire season is a strategic priority for wildfire management agencies worldwide. However, there is considerable evidence to suggest that although these agencies invest significant effort towards this objective in the lead up to each wildfire season, landholders in at-risk locations often remain under-prepared. One reason for the poor translation of risk information materials into actual preparation may be attributed to the diversity of people now inhabiting wildfire-prone locations in peri-urban landscapes. These people hold widely varying experiences, beliefs, attitudes and values relating to wildfire, which influence their understanding and interpretation of risk messages – doing so within the constraints of their individual contexts. This paper examines the diversity of types of local environmental knowledge (LEK) present within wildfire-prone landscapes affected by amenity-led in-migration in south-east Australia. It investigates the ways people learn and form LEK of wildfire, and how this affects the ability of at-risk individuals to interpret and act on risk communication messages. We propose a practical framework that complements existing risk education mechanisms with engagement and interaction techniques (agency–community and within community) that can utilise LEK most effectively and facilitate improved community-wide learning about wildfire and wildfire preparedness.
Additional keywords: Australia, experiential learning, natural hazards, peri-urban landscapes, risk communication.
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