Barriers which preclude the formation of strong, comprehensive wildfire mitigation plans and strategies in Ontario: a knowledge gap analysis

Abstract

As occurrences of wildland-urban interface (WUI) wildfires become more frequent throughout Ontario, there has been an increasing need for mitigative approaches towards managing wildfire on landscapes, especially where human settlement has taken place. Since the provincial government and many communities based in Ontario’s boreal forest have not yet implemented mitigative actions against wildfire risk, this study will explore which factors act as barriers to the formation of a comprehensive wildfire mitigation strategy in Ontario. This literature review will analyse factors such as gaps in knowledge in fuel management techniques, social barriers, economic barriers, and policy barriers, which prevent the formation of a wildfire mitigation program in Ontario. Findings from the literature review reveal that the following points act as the main factors which prevent the formation of effective mitigation strategies in Ontario: (1) there is a distinct lack in research regarding fire behaviour in fuel treatments specific to Ontario’s forest types; (2) current forest management policies in Ontario are not conductive to wildfire mitigation; (3) there is an absence of funding and workforce for mitigation planning and implementation; and (4) there is a general lack in social and political understanding and support for community wildfire resiliency projects.