Presentation short abstract

This paper examines how interactions between social, economic and political forces are shaping wildfire risks in Galicia. Grounded in political ecology and using interdisciplinary methods, the paper shows how power dynamics and diverse actors contribute to a firescape of increasing vulnerability.

Presentation long abstract

The landscape of Galicia, the Northwestern region of Spain, continues to fall victim to an increasing incidence of wildfires. For centuries the region has faced recurring wildfires with cultural, industrial and political factors playing a central role in shaping Galicia’s vulnerabilities. While the existing literature provides substantial historical and institutional grounding for the causes of the wildfires, this paper examines the contemporary network of actors involved in perpetuating wildfire risk. The paper is situated within political ecology and contributes a holistic analysis of intersecting power dynamics, presenting questions related to land ownership, historical burning practices, renewable energy production, rural depopulation, reforestation policy and natural resource management. Adopting the “firesapes” analytical framework the Galician socioecological system is defined in relation to the drivers and effects of the wildfires. Methodologically the paper presents an interdisciplinary perspective, combining qualitative and quantitative methods. An anthropological investigation will follow a period of fieldwork carried out in the region, rooted in a series of interviews and focus groups with rural citizens, members of emergency services, local experts and larger corporate/political actors. The quantitative side will include geographical mapping to identify correlations between wildfire incidence and structural change. The paper argues that the wildfire crisis in Galicia in recent years is the result of diverse social, economic and political factors creating a firescape in which risks are continually increased rather than mitigated. In highlighting these issues, the paper contributes to broader debates about global sustainable development, particularly related to biodiversity and the promotion of responsible production policies.