Academic Journal
Swedish Private Forest Owners’ Experiences of Forest Fire on Their Property
| Title: | Swedish Private Forest Owners’ Experiences of Forest Fire on Their Property |
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| Authors: | Björcman, Frida, Nilsson, Bengt, 1982, Elmqvist, Carina, 1964, Fridlund, Bengt, Svensson, Anders, 1977 |
| Source: | Small-scale Forestry. 24:133-156 |
| Subject Terms: | Wildfire, Fire and rescue service, Resilience, Local community, Qualitative content analysis, Small-scale, Forestry and Wood Technology, Skog och träteknik |
| Description: | Forest fires, or wildfires, are expected to increase due to warmer and drier summerscaused by climate change. When the forest is on fire, all forest owners are by lawresponsible to assist the fire and rescue services. Hence, the aim of this study wasto describe private forest owners’ experiences of forest fires on their property. Indepthinterviews were conducted and analyzed by using qualitative content analysisto describe 20 private forest owners’ experiences of forest fires. The result mergedin the overarching theme: “Powerlessness in fighting the forest fire alleviates bytogetherness in a desire to help and to be helped”. Meaning, a forest fire is a disasterboth in economical and emotional terms, causing destruction to the forest thathas been in the private forest owners’ care for generations. The forest owner feelsresponsibility and expresses an unquestionable will to act. The invaluable supportfrom the local community helps the forest owner to manage this difficult. However,the forest owner expects to be allowed to contribute, therefore, the fire and rescueservices need a proactive plan that involves private forest owners to ensure a safework environment for all involved. In addition, the strong and differentiated networkof family and neighbors that mobilize brings strength and local knowledgeimportant to the operation. Though worrying of new forest fires will remain, it isa burden that needs to be taken seriously. A positive outcome is that through collaboration,security and resilience enhances in the local community. |
| File Description: | electronic |
| Access URL: | https://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-141028 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11842-025-09589-3 |
| Database: | SwePub |
| ISSN: | 18737617 |
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| DOI: | 10.1007/s11842-025-09589-3 |