Burning with Purpose: Rethinking Power and Justice in Prescribed Burning

Author: Somtochukwu Arthur Attamah¹, Chukwuemezie Charles Emejuo², 
Uchenna Ezekiel Ugbala³, Ugochukwu Andrew Ozoani⁴

Affiliation:  

¹Pennsylvania State University
²University of Illinois, Springfield
³University of Nigeria, Nsukka
⁴University of New Haven

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Abstract:

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Prescribed burning has emerged as a critical forest management tool in a time of accelerating climate change and wildfire crises. However, it has ethical, social, and political implications beyond its ecological function. This paper evaluates the sustainability of prescribed burning through environmental ethics, indigenous knowledge systems, and value-based sustainability indicators. It goes on to argue that although technocratic metrics are useful, an expanded evaluation framework that includes ecological, social, procedural, and intergenerational indicators should be looked at. In this piece, key issues are discussed, such as environmental justice with respect to smoke exposure, including the role of indigenous leadership, and the long-term resilience of ecosystems and cultural practices. Based on Bell and Morse (2012) approach to sustainability, the paper develops a context-sensitive indicator model for guiding ethically sound and inclusive fire governance. This finalizes that sustainable prescribed fire needs to lessen the risk of wildfire while instituting justice, honoring a traditional stewardship, and maintaining ecological and cultural integrity from one generation to the next.

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Keywords: Prescribed burning, Environmental ethics, Sustainability indicators​

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ISSN 3069-8200