Challenges in Developing Wildfire Understanding from Wildfire Information through Spatial Planning Processes

This paper aims to explore the elements that condition and limit spatial planning processes for developing wildfire understanding from wildfire information. The central argument of this paper is that spatial planning’s ability to develop wildfire understanding from new evidence and experience is critical for improving spatial planning systems to better integrate wildfire considerations to promote settlements’ resilience to wildfires. The research involved using an inductive qualitative research approach for two case studies: Victoria (Australia) and Chile’s spatial planning processes for developing wildfire understanding from wildfire information. Based on the analysis of the case studies and cross-case synthesis, key elements that challenge planning processes were identified, and herein, they are discussed in terms of four general categories of the process of knowledge development: (a) identification; (b) ‘co-generation’; (c) reframing; and (d) implementation. The study identifies that the Victorian and Chilean spatial planning systems often fail to give spatial planning meaning to new and dynamic wildfire information due to key elements that constrain the processes of knowledge development. This implies that new wildfire information often does not translate into improvements in the planning system, which in turn entails missing the opportunity to promote settlements’ resilience to wildfires.