Fire Management and Carbon Programs: A Systematic Literature Review and Case Study Analysis

Abstract

Fire management influences the global carbon balance. This systematic literature review of proactive fire management programs as nature-based climate solutions synthesizes findings into four case studies to bring insight to these programs and their additional benefits. We review 136 papers, mostly from Australia, Brazil, Southern Africa, and the USA, reflecting the relevance of proactive fire management to savanna ecosystems. Four themes emerged: governance and policies; methodologies; reduced wildfire and GHG emissions; and co-benefits. Australia provides most literature on methodologies to account for greenhouse gas emissions abated. Australia and the USA focus on the social co-benefits, typically among Indigenous peoples. Biodiversity outcomes are largely discussed in Brazilian and African studies. Evidence of a shift to proactive fire management is documented in the case studies analyzed, but political, technical, and cultural barriers prevent further implementation at broader scales.

Keywords:

• Carbon programs
• case study analysis
• co-benefits
• fire management
• Indigenous peoples
• systematic literature review

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Emma Roberts for reviewing and providing suggestions and improvements for the paper. Renata Moura da Veiga thanks São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) grant #2020/06470-2.

Additional information

Funding

The authors thank the Gathering Voices Society for supporting this work, and their supporters including the Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia, Intact Foundation, and the Vancouver Foundation.