Wildfire management in South Africa: An assessment using Integrated Fire Management

Abstract

This assessment of South African wildland fire management is part of a broader effort from the International Programs Office of the U.S. Forest Service to assess the wildland fire situation across Africa. The assessment was guided by an Integrated Fire Management approach, which incorporates a holistic understanding of fire on the landscape and the many trade-offs of management actions. This assessment is based on a survey administered from June – July 2023 and captures the diverse perspectives of 108 survey respondents. Findings from this assessment reveal the following: (1) a perception that wildland fires have damaging unwanted effects in their communities; (2) arson is identified as the leading cause of human-originated wildfires; (3) respondents have mixed perspectives on having enough personnel to deal with wildland fires depending on province; (4) most respondents perceive that the incident command system is used in their community; and (5) perceptions toward restoration guidelines for ecosystems affected by wildland fires are mixed, and regional data suggest potential disparities in recovery efforts.

Citation

Flores, David; Lartey, Desmond; Fleming, Louis; Ferreira, Dean. 2025. Wildfire management in South Africa: An assessment using Integrated Fire Management. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-450. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 36 p. https://doi.org/10.2737/RMRS-GTR-450.