Twentieth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

Abstract

In Portugal, besides the increase in the recurrence and intensity of rural wildfires, some constraints related to the management system of rural fires are pointed out as reasons for the narrow successful operationalization of fire management policies. Some of the factors are related to the fact that the system is based upon multiple organizations, structures, and stakeholders, probably enhancing tensions, conflicts, and poor communication. In this vein, we conducted a systematic literature review to unveil how Stakeholder Analysis (SA) and Social Network Analysis (SNA) have been addressed by European studies focusing on forests and, particularly, wildfires. The 36 articles selected, were subjected to a descriptive analysis and a thematic analysis (quantitative and qualitative) considering several dimensions. In the purpose and aim of the reviewed papers, our findings are in line with natural resources management literature: SA was mainly used to understand the existing system (stakeholders` perception) for supporting policy- and decision-making processes; SNA was principally used to understand the existing system (networks, their relationships and interactions) for support policy- and decision-making processes; SA combined with SNA was mainly used to develop a method (to identify and classify stakeholders) for supporting policy- and decision-making processes and participatory processes. In light of that and other relevant findings, a methodology approach is being designed to understand the networking and patterns of interactions of diverse actors and institutions of the Integrated Wildland Fire Management System. This work is funded by Portuguese national funds through FCT (PhD (SFRH/BD/147416/2019) and ShareFOREST project (PCIF/GRF/0050/2019)).

Presenters

Cláudia Fernandes
Student, PhD, University of Aveiro, Portugal

Alexandra Polido
Assistant Researcher, Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies (GOVCOPP), Department of Social, Political and Territorial Sciences (DCSPT), University of Aveiro, University of Aveiro, Portugal