Presentation short abstract

Community-Based Fire Management (CBFM) has emerged as a viable alternative approach to wildfire management, however they are seldomly used in Kenya due to persistent fire suppression policies which have excluded IPLC. Legal frameworks should be inclusive and co-developed.

Presentation long abstract

The frequency and severity of wildfires are increasing globally, highlighting the limitations of conventional fire suppression policies in managing fire-prone landscapes. Despite the resumption of Community-Based Fire Management (CBFM) as in as a viable alternative in developed countries, it is seldomly used in Kenya due to enforcement of fire suppression policies and lack of clear fire management frameworks. We aimed to identify impediments of effective fire use, identify barriers to effective inclusion of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) and their traditional knowledge in fire management frameworks, and assesses potential pathways for enhancing inclusivity in fire-suppressed landscapes. Data was collected through online questionnaires and a participatory workshop format involving a total of 140 respondents. Of these, 20 IPLCs and 20 fire managers participated in one-day, and two-day workshops respectively. The impediments of fire use differed significantly between the tribes (p< 0.001) with fear of fire getting of control, lack of awareness, lack of legal frameworks and emerging carbon restrictions hindering effective fire use. Over 80% of fire managers and 60% of IPLC agreed that cultural practices and knowledge are largely excluded in the current fire frameworks due to lack of awareness, deliberate exclusion by authorities and lack of funding to facilitate inclusion. Clear legal frameworks and co-develop plans coupled with education and training, provision of fire equipment could revamp traditional fire use and increase IPLC inclusion in the fire frameworks unlike current where participation in fire suppression does not necessarily translate into the meaningful integration of Indigenous and local knowledge