Presentation short abstract

The study shows how conservation and tourism shape fire governance in the Okavango. Using satellite data, literature, and interviews, it finds that concession rules shape fire use and reinforce power dynamics that can marginalise livelihoods.

Presentation long abstract

Fire has long shaped the ecology of the Okavango landscape, yet conservation and tourism narratives frame fire as a threat to wildlife, infrastructure, and the region’s tourism economy.These narratives have influenced the development of fire governance across protected areas and private concessions, promoting restrictive fire policies that limit where and how burning can occur. Such approaches obscure fire’s ecological role and the political and economic processes through which land and resource access are regulated.This work examines how conservation and tourism influence fire management and the spatial patterns of burning across the Okavango landscape. Drawing on MODIS fire data, conservation policies, historical literature, and interviews with tourism operators, conservation organisations, and key informants, the study traces how concession boundaries and access rules shape fire practices. Preliminary results reveal a differentiation between the interior Delta, dominated by tourism concessions with strict fire suppression, and the Panhandle, where most livelihood-related burning occurs, including agriculture, fishing, and grass and reed collection. Tourism actors often emphasise the dangers of uncontrolled fire, while conservation organisations highlight concerns about fire near wildlife and protected areas. Differing interpretations of fire use influence management decisions and shape how fire events are attributed to particular groups. By analysing fire as both an ecological process and a political instrument, this study shows how fire governance reinforces existing power relations in the Okavango landscape. The study argues that more inclusive and contextually grounded fire management is essential for addressing emerging fire-related tensions and supporting sustainable coexistence among conservation, tourism, and local livelihoods.