Determining Public Perceptions toward Wildland Fire in the Veluwe Region of the Netherlands

<p>The Netherlands has been facing a growing threat of wildfires due to warmer</p> <p>and drier weather patterns. The purpose of this study was to identify public</p> <p>perceptions toward wildland fire in the forested Veluwe region of the country. The</p> <p>Dutch have little experience with wildland fires or fire as a management tool. In a</p> <p>collaborative effort between Stephen F. Austin State University and the Instituut</p> <p>Fysieke Veiligheid, the Dutch public safety agency, a survey was distributed to</p> <p>residents and visitors to the Veluwe to reveal and quantify public opinions and</p> <p>perceptions regarding wildland fire and public expectations of government</p> <p>agencies in the event of a wildfire. Due to the lack of any significant historical</p> <p>context of wildfires, the assumption was that the Dutch do not see fire as an</p> <p>immediate threat. Findings from this survey revealed that visitors and residents of</p> <p>the Veluwe region are more aware of the wildfire problem in the Netherlands than</p> <p>originally anticipated. They do not see wildfires as an immediate threat to</p> <p>themselves, but rather a threat to nature areas within the country. Respondents</p> <p>to this survey also have high expectations of government agencies to inform</p> <p>them about wildfires.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science - Forestry

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Forestry

Year dc:date.available

2016

Author dc:creator

• Brennan, Amy

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Brian P. Oswald
• Dr. Pat Stephens Williams
• Dr. Ray Darville

• Netherlands
• wildland fire
• wildfire
• public perceptions
• survey
• Veluwe
• Forest Management
• Other International and Area Studies
• Social Statistics

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/58

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.sfasu.edu:etds-1066