Community Engagement With Proactive Wildfire Management in British Columbia, Canada: Perceptions, Preferences, and Barriers to Action

Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 5

Published: March 8, 2022

Wildfires in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) are increasingly threatening lives and livelihoods. These growing impacts have prompted a paradigm shift toward proactive wildfire management that prioritizes prevention preparedness instead of response. Despite this shift, many communities remain unprepared for wildfires WUI due to diverse individual social-political factors influencing engagement with approaches. The catastrophic fire seasons 2017, 2018, 2021 British Columbia (BC), Canada, highlighted just how vulnerable continue be urgent need understand limiting future resilience wildfire. Our study, conducted prior season surveyed 77 community leaders across BC better driving engagement, including risk perception, preferences support approaches, key barriers progress. We demonstrate is an issue facing BC, but range drive variable management. First Nations smaller (≤5,000 residents) were less likely developed plan, even though significantly more concerned than municipalities/regional districts about certain values (such as drinking water biodiversity) at from In general, approaches considered effective also most supported. highly supported included enforcement regulations education, both which provincial responsibility unlikely alter WUI. contrast, involving prescribed burning understory had highest levels opposition. variability these factors, related financial social (time expertise) capacity primarily limited management, federal funding programs. However, not equally felt groups; identified expertise on government-sponsored awareness programs) districts. study illustrates limitations implementing “shared responsibility” without targeted supports address unequal barriers.

Language: Английский

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Modelling opportunities of potential European abandoned farmland to contribute to environmental policy targets

CATENA, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 232, P. 107460 - 107460

Published: Aug. 19, 2023

Farmland abandonment is a major proximate driver of landscape change in European rural areas and often followed by natural revegetation. In certain conditions, it might be preferable to prevent or reverse farmland manage these towards active restoration (i.e., guided rewilding with wild domesticated animals). These alternative responses lead context-dependent impacts, which can potentially contribute Green Deal objectives for environment areas. While previous studies analysed direct impacts abandonment, there little insight into how ways managing abandoned best environmental policy goals, what type management preferred where. To assess opportunities areas, we compared three trajectories: revegetation, rewilding, extensive re-farming. We the potential positive negative cultural developing strategies all locations that could across Europe. Mapping quantification benefits risks associated different indicate large spatial variation regions. revegetation support high carbon sequestration erosion reduction, also linked more frequent trade-offs than re-farming rewilding. However, very strong trade-offs. It worthwhile focus on largest gains fewest when targeting investments prevention Our maps help inform interventions maximise contributions lands targets.

Language: Английский

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Assessing silvopasture management as a strategy to reduce fuel loads and mitigate wildfire risk

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: March 12, 2024

Abstract Managing private forests for wildfire resilience is challenging due to conflicting social, economic, and ecological decisions that may result in an increase of surface fuel loads leading greater fire risk. Due suppression a changing climate, land managers fire-prone regions face increasing threat high severity fires. Thus, need treatment options match their forest types management objectives. One potential option producers graze livestock silvopasture management, where livestock, forages, overstory vegetation are carefully managed co-benefits on the same unit land. This study compared composition structure, types, vegetative biomass between non-grazed Washington, U.S. We show results reductions grass biomass, litter, duff depth when forest. These findings point integrated nature silvopasture, understory vegetation, grazing can reduce

Language: Английский

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Diet comparison between sympatric European bison, red deer and fallow deer in a Mediterranean landscape

Biodiversity and Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 33(5), P. 1775 - 1791

Published: April 1, 2024

Abstract At the end of 2020, 18 European bison ( Bison bonasus ) were introduced to El Encinarejo estate, in south Iberian Peninsula. This hunting-oriented estate has 956 hectares dehesa , Mediterranean forest and scrubland which about 400 red deer Cervus elaphus 200 fallow Dama dama coexist with bison. To know how trophic resources are used by these herbivore species, faecal samples collected during year 2021. The microhistological analysis technique was determine percentage epidermal fragments main functional groups (woody plants, graminoids, legumes forbs) each sample. results showed significant differences between animal species seasons year. Globally, woody plants preferentially consumed autumn winter, graminoids summer forbs spring. component most abundant diet three accounting for 81% plant present faeces, 52% 38% deer. is first study describing dietary use Pistacia lentiscus bison, substantial throughout all indicates it as a very important source. In addition, interspecific comparison that significantly more (21%), whereas (32%). Finally, less than other two (8%). It concluded there certain distribution may facilitate their coexistence.

Language: Английский

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On the road to losing connectivity: Faecal samples provide genome‐wide insights into anthropogenic impacts on two large herbivore species in central India

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 33(16)

Published: July 3, 2024

Abstract Humans have impacted most of the planet, and ensuing fragmentation results in small, isolated habitat patches posing a risk genetic diversity loss, inbreeding, load. Understanding how natural anthropogenic landscape features affect gene flow among is critical for maintaining connectivity. Genome‐wide data are required to comprehend impacts recent fragmentation, which can be challenging when only non‐invasive samples available. Here, we build upon advancements conservation genomics address connectivity two large herbivores, gaur ( Bos gaurus ) sambar Rusa unicolor central India. Given their associations, expected these species respond similarly fragmentation. We used faecal‐DNA methylation‐based host‐DNA enrichment with modified ddRAD protocol generate genome‐wide single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) 124 99 individuals. Our findings reveal that populations India fragmented, displaying high differentiation, drift significantly affecting small like Umred Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary. Although shows low structure, another population, Bor Tiger Reserve genetically differentiated. suggest although land cover change roads restrict animal movement, extent this impact varies across species. show different differently features, even similar associations. highlight requiring urgent intervention. Such multi‐species approaches enhance our understanding cross‐species patterns. shifting from single‐species holistic approach rapidly developing landscapes better manage co‐occurring endangered

Language: Английский

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