Departing from the Colonial Path: A Critical Approach to Studying Fire Regime Changes in West Africa

Abstract

Research indicates that, contrary to common perceptions, wildfire activity is declining globally, primarily due to reduced fire activity in savannas. This finding exposes the normative view of fire as hazard and the neutrality of using satellite data for assessing fire regimes, as these overshadow local contexts, histories, and politics that shape them. The evolution of the fire regime concept reflects historical ambiguities in fire science and policy in colonial contexts. Today, fire research is influenced by carbon market considerations and informed by global fire datasets. This paper critically examines whether modern satellite data usage moves away from colonial legacies in fire management, particularly in West Africa. It highlights the complexities of fire regime changes, arguing that current policies oversimplify fire into a “good/bad” dichotomy. The authors propose a framework to document diverse local fire trajectories influenced by factors such as demographic shifts, land cover changes, and biogeography. Through sequence analysis, nine distinct fire trajectories are identified, revealing that while global fire activity in savannas is decreasing, many regions remain stable in terms of fire intensity and seasonality. These insights encourage a reevaluation of fire management strategies in West Africa, moving beyond simplistic classifications to better reflect the diversity of local realities.