Literature review of societal perceptions of wildfire risk and mitigation behaviours. A report for the RESAS Strategic Research Programme project 'The impacts of climate change on Natural Capital (JHI-D5-2)

The aim of this review is to explore information on risk perception relevant to wildfires arising from climate change in Scotland. This literature review provides information on: Common theories of risk perception and methods for its analysis. Insights on the relationships between risk perception and risk behaviour. The objective is to provide information informing responses to four key questions: What factors influence the perception of risk; What are the actions taken to mitigate this risk; What are the factors that incentivise individuals and communities to take specific mitigation actions; How does communication change behaviours? The purpose of this review is to help inform the development of research activities on wildfire and climate change risk perception within Work Package 3 in the project ‘Climate Change Impacts on Natural Capital’. Through assessing risk perception and mitigation behaviours in the context of wildfires, we aim to develop an improved understanding of the theories of risk and mitigation behaviour that can then be utilised in the broader context of climate change impacts, particularly in respect of Natural Capital and Nature Based Solutions