Application of the Socio-Ecological System Framework to Forest Fire Risk Management: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Although increasing concern about climate change has raised awareness of the fundamental role of forest ecosystems, forests are threatened by human-induced impacts worldwide. Among them, wildfire risk is clearly the result of the interaction between human activities, ecological domains, and climate. However, a clear understanding of these interactions is still needed both at the global and local levels. Numerous studies have proven the validity of the socioecological system (SES) approach in addressing this kind of interdisciplinary issue. Therefore, a systematic review of the existing literature on the application of SES frameworks to forest ecosystems is carried out, with a specific focus on wildfire risk management. The results demonstrate the existence of different methodological approaches that can be grouped into seven main categories, which range from qualitative analysis to quantitative spatially explicit investigations. The strengths and limitations of the approaches are discussed, with a specific reference to the geographical setting of the works. The research suggests the importance of local community involvement and local knowledge consideration in wildfire risk management. This review provides a starting point for future research on forest SES and a supporting tool for the development of a sustainable wildfire risk adaptation and mitigation strategy.

Protected Area Effectiveness in the Scientific Literature: A Decade-Long Bibliometric Analysis

“…We retrieved thirteen relevant bibliometric variables and three thematic variables for each article from relevant databases (Supplementary Materials) according to the literature [17,19,24,33,37,38] and a consultation with specialists in bibliometrics. The three thematic variables related to PA effectiveness were: the type of research design used in the evaluation of ecological effectiveness, biodiversity outcomes, and the Human Development Index-HDI-of the studied country.…”

“…The concurrence of these scientific interests has likely increased publications, especially between 2015 and 2019. This phenomenon has not only occurred in the field of (M)PAs [23,35,49] but also in other thematic fields, especially those related to natural and anthropogenic risks that have negative effects on natural resources, sustainability and landscape ecology such as land-use changes [15], forest fires [17,18,38] or ecotourism [24].…”

“…This paradigm shift occurs simultaneously with international political commitments [35]. To address other complex environmental problems, such as wildfire risk, the need for an interdisciplinary approach and collaboration between experts from different scientific areas is also evident [38,67]. Journals belonging to the thematic categories of Environmental Sciences and Ecology are the priority when publishing in this field [33,49].…”

FIRELAN—An Ecologically Based Planning Model towards a Fire Resilient and Sustainable Landscape. A Case Study in Center Region of Portugal

“…Large-scale rural fires are a worldwide problem that has been studied in the most fire-prone regions of the world, such as North America [1], Australia [2] and Europe [3], with several methodological approaches [4]. In Europe, the Mediterranean region has been the most affected area by rural fires in the last decades [5].…”

Potential Analysis of Mediterranean Forestry for Offsetting GHG Emissions at Regional Level: Evidence from Valencia, Spain

“…Natural forest disturbances (mainly wildfires) emit 9 Gt C per year worldwide, which represents approximately 30% more than the GHG emissions from fossil fuels [10]. Wildfire risk is clearly the result of the interaction between human activities, largely a result of mismanagement over decades or centuries, ecological domains, and climate [11]. In fact, in especially vulnerable areas such as the Mediterranean, wildfire risk is increasing mainly due to three causes [12]:…”