University of California, Santa Cruz Anthropology Professor Andrew Mathews explores how traditional land management practices could help improve resilience in the face of increased fire risk due to climate change in the Mediterranean. Historical practices such as leaf litter collection and managed burning were crucial in maintaining fire-resistant landscapes, but have been forgotten over time, in part due to classism and sexism.
In the Monte Pisano region of Central Italy, peasant women and shepherds played significant roles in maintaining fire-resistant landscapes by activities such as collecting leaf litter and conducting managed burns. However, the social status of these groups led to the importance of their work being unrecognized. In recent decades, rural lands in the Mediterranean have been increasingly abandoned, leading to overgrown, highly flammable forests due to the lack of maintenance.
Mathews sought out elderly individuals in the Monte Pisano region to learn about traditional land management practices through oral history interviews. Participants shared stories of active forests with minimal fire fuel, reflecting the impact of activities like leaf litter collection and grazing. However, modern landscapes showcased dense scrub and thick leaf litter, indicating a disconnect between past practices and present conditions.
The research highlighted that traditional land management practices significantly reduced fire risk in the region, but have been largely forgotten and ignored over time. The banning and stigmatization of these practices, including managed burning by shepherds, contributed to their eradication. The research also revealed a disconnect between the history of fire management and general awareness in local communities.
According to Mathews, the historical politics of classism and sexism played a role in the neglect of traditional land management practices in the Mediterranean. Peasant practices, often led by women and children, were considered outdated by the state, leading to a focus on modernization and timber production over sustainable fire management. Shepherds, who were key figures in managed burning, were stereotyped and misunderstood by government officials.
Communities worldwide can learn from the lessons of Monte Pisano’s traditional fire management practices and the consequences of forgetting them. Landscape abandonment, similar to what occurred in Italy, is taking place in other regions globally, leading to a decrease in traditional managed burning. Mathews emphasizes the importance of understanding the impacts of eliminating agropastoral burning, as it may result in larger fires in the future.
