Living with fire: rethinking wildfire and land management through the risk perception of local communities and fire managers in Tuscany (Italy)

The research presented in this doctoral thesis stems from the need to deepen the understanding of risk perception in relation to the phenomenon of wildfires. While the study of risks and disasters is a well-established field within scientific research, wildfires have rarely been examined as a central example. On one hand, this reveals a clear gap in knowledge and development that calls for further exploration. On the other hand, as discussed in the introductory chapter, wildfires should not be treated in the same way as other natural hazards such as climate change, floods, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions. This is primarily because of the profound and longstanding relationship between humans and fire throughout the history and transformation of the planet. The thesis discusses this relationship and examines why the perception of fire as a threat has evolved alongside the social and ecological changes experienced and induced by human activity. From an ecological perspective, fire regimes have undergone significant transformations over the past two centuries, in parallel with the industrial revolution, technological development, and the resulting climate change. Today, wildfires frequently manifest as extreme events, particularly in certain latitudes such as the Mediterranean region of Europe. In these cases, firefighting capacities are often insufficient to contain or extinguish large fires. This is partly due to decades of emergency-based and fire-exclusion policies, which have led to the accumulation of combustible material in depopulated rural areas affected by urbanization. Prevention, therefore, emerges as a central and urgent issue that must be addressed directly within local territories. Wildfires are studied here through the lens of the socio-ecological systems framework, in order to interpret their evolution and geography. In addition, the thesis draws on the critical disaster studies framework to offer a critical perspective on wildfire governance, regulation, and operational management, as well as on their interconnections with the broader socio-economic contradictions affecting local territories. It argues that wildfires must be approached in all their complexity, through transdisciplinary and intersectional perspectives - contrary to the reductionist approaches, flattened on a technical level, adopted in the past. A primary objective of this research is to provide a comprehensive overview of the topic, not only to advance academic debate, but above all to understand how to foster adaptation to wildfire phenomena without increasing the risk faced by local populations in fire-prone territories. Risk perception is assumed to be the central variable for investigating wildfires as a socio-ecological phenomenon. This choice is motivated by the fact that perception is shaped by multiple factors - historical memory, communication, culture, experience, and the characteristics of the territory itself. Studying perception also enables comparison between different forms of knowledge: between experts and non-experts, between residents and non-residents, and between those who use fire and those who do not. Risk perception further contributes to understanding the vulnerability of a territory - that is, of the communities, ecosystems, and relationships that compose it. The study is conducted in Italy, with a focus on the region of Tuscany, a highly forested area characterized by extensive rural abandonment and a relatively well-developed regional wildfire management system (Antincendio Boschivo, AIB) compared to other Italian regions. However, as the thesis shows (Chapters 3 and 4), this system is not exempt from criticism. The investigation of perception is therefore carried out through multiple methods and at different levels of depth, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches to provide an integrated understanding of wildfire risk perception. Chapter 2 examines wildfire governance in Italy, a country marked by strong institutional and territorial diversity. Through qualitative research across seven regions, it reveals a fragmented system where responsibilities are dispersed among multiple agencies and local participation is often replaced by extra-local networks. Despite formal commitments to precautionary approaches, emergency response remains dominant due to inconsistent legislation and weak coordination. The findings call for integrated, cross-scale governance and anticipatory systems to enhance adaptive wildfire risk management in Italy and southern Europe. Chapter 3 uses quantitative data from media sources and wildfire records to identify possible gaps between communication and actual events and, based on these, to define critical areas. These critical areas represent places where it is necessary to study wildfire risk perception more closely among the actors operating in those territories. In this first stage, perception is explored through communication itself - that is, through the flow of news related to wildfires disseminated across various mass media channels. Chapter 4 deepens the analysis of perception mainly through the use of questionnaires. Both open and closed questions address several topics: biographical information, relationship with the territory, relationship with fire and wildfires, social relations and local coordination, the functioning of the operational system, media influence, and risk perception. Respondents include both local residents and people who carry out activities in the area, with or without expertise in the field. An interesting finding concerns the distinction between the concepts of fire and wildfire, as they emerge in respondents’ perceptions. Among the questionnaire results, two outlier areas stood out in terms of perception: Calci, where a relatively high level of awareness is observed, and Viareggio, where responses reveal a limited understanding of the phenomenon and, consequently, low preparedness at the territorial level. Chapter 5 further investigates wildfire risk perception using additional analytical tools, focusing on the previously identified outliers, particularly the area of Viareggio. Shortly after the questionnaire phase, an extreme wildfire occurred nearby, in Massarosa (2022). Since perception does not follow administrative but rather relational boundaries, it was considered relevant to analyze the perceptions of those who directly experienced the event. The chosen research tool was the semi-structured interview, conducted with a diverse sample of local actors (both experts and non-experts) holding different roles and levels of knowledge at regional and local scales (Calci, Massarosa, Viareggio). The interviews generated a large amount of information, enabling multiple analytical perspectives. Due to time constraints, a full exploration of all emerging themes is left to future research. In this work, only some of these themes are discussed, grouped into five main categories: territorial context and socio-economic transformations; relationships and community; fire management and use; policies and participation; and perception and memory. Results show slight differences between experts and non-experts in how they prioritize issues. In both groups, territorial relationships and transformations carry significant weight, as do risk perception and land maintenance. Experts, especially technical professionals, discuss management issues in greater detail. However, all interviewees identify the abandonment of forested areas as a key driver of an increased wildfire risk. Comparing interviews from Calci and Massarosa reveals that historical memory and the revitalization of rural activities play crucial roles in shaping risk perception and awareness of the phenomenon. Experts also highlight the limitations of the current operational system, while suggesting potential improvements. Finally, one promising and constructive theme emerging from the interviews concerns the development of firewise communities, collective tools that are beginning to take shape in Italy, particularly through ongoing pilot initiatives in Tuscany. Further discussion of these themes is provided in Chapter 5. This thesis examined wildfire risk perception as a key factor in understanding and improving the relationship between communities, institutions, and fire-prone territories in Tuscany. Results show that perception is a social construct shaped by experience, communication, and participation. While direct fire experience increases awareness only temporarily, long-term change depends on education, training, and shared engagement. Acting on perception reduces social vulnerability and, indirectly, overall risk. Italy’s wildfire governance remains fragmented and reactive, with emergency response prevailing over prevention. Shifting toward a more participatory, bottom-up model is crucial to strengthen trust, coordination, and local responsibility. Media analysis revealed episodic and sensational communication, highlighting the need for continuous, educational approaches. Surveys and interviews showed gaps between experts and non-experts, yet both recognise prevention and collective action as priorities. Building a “culture of fire” and a “culture of risk” through co-learning, participation, and everyday collaboration can enhance community resilience and foster coexistence with fire rather than its exclusion. Ultimately, improving wildfire risk perception is not only a research objective but a pathway toward adaptive, equitable, and sustainable territorial governance.