A systemic approach to fire prevention: A case study of rural fires in Portugal

Society is confronted with enormous obstacles in addressing complex and interconnected socio-ecological issues, such as climate change. Over time, climate change has been manifested in several weather-related events, particularly fires and natural ecosystems’ degeneration. As fires become more intense and faster spreading, national and local governments, civil protection, and fire-fighting forces become less effective in protecting society. Future policies should promote a more preventive, less reactive attitude in this new era of severe conditions. Therefore, a holistic understanding is needed: living in the age in which fires are rising as a global concern, it is crucial to study, analyse, and propose interventions to tackle the problem through an integral approach. This thesis addresses the issue by exploring how a systemic approach can contribute to an understanding of the prevention of rural fires by investigating the rural fire management system in Portugal. The study provides an overview of natural hazards, disasters, and disaster management, focusing on rural fires. Furthermore, it presents the case study adopting a systemic approach bridging the knowledge from strategic design and actor-network theory literature, considering the role of the non-human actors in the Portuguese rural fire management system. The thesis complements the knowledge gain from the literature with a qualitative research approach. The research process includes conversational and semi-structured interviews and the study of existing policy documents. These methods provide an in-depth view of the system and the institutional structure by identifying the actors, their relationships, and unpacking the current issues. The findings, categorised in five themes, expose the main factors that can influence rural fire prevention: 1) The roles and responsibilities of actors, 2) The institutional structure, mindset and attitude, 3) The heterogeneity of the rural areas, 4) The phenomenon of fires, and 5) The forest as an agent. Supported by the leverage points, this study identifies intervention areas and suggests a series of recommendations to address the challenges identified in the findings. The thesis concludes that with more involvement and collaboration between the different actors, the fire management system can prevent and mitigate the risks of rural fires in a more efficient and organised manner. This thesis demonstrates how a systemic approach can provide a holistic overview of rural fire prevention. It contributes with insights to the academic community, providing a deeper understanding of how to address complex societal challenges