Perception from a Public Survey of the Social–Ecological Effects of Wildfires in the Chiquitania Region of Bolivia
In recent years, large-scale wildfires have become a serious threat to terrestrial ecosystems and people in the Chiquitania region of Bolivia. Understanding public perceptions is fundamental to designing comprehensive and effective wildfire management strategies. The objectives of the study were to...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| author | Oswaldo Maillard Patricia Herrera Nicolas Mielich Claudia Venegas |
| author_facet | Oswaldo Maillard Patricia Herrera Nicolas Mielich Claudia Venegas |
| author_sort | Oswaldo Maillard |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In recent years, large-scale wildfires have become a serious threat to terrestrial ecosystems and people in the Chiquitania region of Bolivia. Understanding public perceptions is fundamental to designing comprehensive and effective wildfire management strategies. The objectives of the study were to learn perception on the main causes of wildfires, to understand their perceptions of the impacts of these events, and to explore the most viable solutions to preventing future wildfires in the Chiquitania region of Bolivia. We developed a 15-questions online survey and disseminated it through social media platforms, mobile messaging service groups, and at two workshops held in two locations. A total of 597 people participated in the survey with a balanced sex distribution. The participants were mainly young people aged 18–24 (45.40%) and 25–34 (21.40%), representing university students (42.6%) and professionals (42.6%). The data came from seven departments, but Santa Cruz was more strongly represented (75.9%). In addition, although only 65% considered themselves part of the general population, the data shows that 76% had personal experience of wildfires. Respondents indicated that fires were caused by human activities (95.9%), mainly due to traditional agricultural practices. The most important perceived impacts included landscape and vegetation quality, fauna habitat and ecosystem regeneration. In addition, participants have prioritized the reinforcement of patrols and surveillance, the hiring of forest firefighters and the purchase of aerial firefighting units. For prevention, the most chosen was to change policies that promote fires, changing the vision for economic development and stricter penalties. The findings can be used to formulate public policies aimed at preventing wildfires, mitigating their impacts and promoting environmental conservation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d6b21ee408a7414b8ac5b3e79b34bf5c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-4834 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-d6b21ee408a7414b8ac5b3e79b34bf5c2025-08-20T03:27:01ZengMDPI AGEarth2673-48342025-05-01623210.3390/earth6020032Perception from a Public Survey of the Social–Ecological Effects of Wildfires in the Chiquitania Region of BoliviaOswaldo Maillard0Patricia Herrera1Nicolas Mielich2Claudia Venegas3Fundación para la Conservación del Bosque Chiquitano (FCBC), Santa Cruz, BoliviaFacultad de Ciencias Agrícolas, Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno, Santa Cruz, BoliviaFundación para la Conservación del Bosque Chiquitano (FCBC), Santa Cruz, BoliviaMuseo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado, Universidad Autónoma Gabriel René Moreno, Santa Cruz, BoliviaIn recent years, large-scale wildfires have become a serious threat to terrestrial ecosystems and people in the Chiquitania region of Bolivia. Understanding public perceptions is fundamental to designing comprehensive and effective wildfire management strategies. The objectives of the study were to learn perception on the main causes of wildfires, to understand their perceptions of the impacts of these events, and to explore the most viable solutions to preventing future wildfires in the Chiquitania region of Bolivia. We developed a 15-questions online survey and disseminated it through social media platforms, mobile messaging service groups, and at two workshops held in two locations. A total of 597 people participated in the survey with a balanced sex distribution. The participants were mainly young people aged 18–24 (45.40%) and 25–34 (21.40%), representing university students (42.6%) and professionals (42.6%). The data came from seven departments, but Santa Cruz was more strongly represented (75.9%). In addition, although only 65% considered themselves part of the general population, the data shows that 76% had personal experience of wildfires. Respondents indicated that fires were caused by human activities (95.9%), mainly due to traditional agricultural practices. The most important perceived impacts included landscape and vegetation quality, fauna habitat and ecosystem regeneration. In addition, participants have prioritized the reinforcement of patrols and surveillance, the hiring of forest firefighters and the purchase of aerial firefighting units. For prevention, the most chosen was to change policies that promote fires, changing the vision for economic development and stricter penalties. The findings can be used to formulate public policies aimed at preventing wildfires, mitigating their impacts and promoting environmental conservation.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4834/6/2/32social surveysfire managementgovernancetropical dry forestbiodiversity |
| spellingShingle | Oswaldo Maillard Patricia Herrera Nicolas Mielich Claudia Venegas Perception from a Public Survey of the Social–Ecological Effects of Wildfires in the Chiquitania Region of Bolivia Earth social surveys fire management governance tropical dry forest biodiversity |
| title | Perception from a Public Survey of the Social–Ecological Effects of Wildfires in the Chiquitania Region of Bolivia |
| title_full | Perception from a Public Survey of the Social–Ecological Effects of Wildfires in the Chiquitania Region of Bolivia |
| title_fullStr | Perception from a Public Survey of the Social–Ecological Effects of Wildfires in the Chiquitania Region of Bolivia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perception from a Public Survey of the Social–Ecological Effects of Wildfires in the Chiquitania Region of Bolivia |
| title_short | Perception from a Public Survey of the Social–Ecological Effects of Wildfires in the Chiquitania Region of Bolivia |
| title_sort | perception from a public survey of the social ecological effects of wildfires in the chiquitania region of bolivia |
| topic | social surveys fire management governance tropical dry forest biodiversity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4834/6/2/32 |
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