Le risque d’incendie de forêt en Corse : de l’approche globale par l’aléa à une approche locale des vulnérabilités

Abstract

There seem to be two types of fire risk in Corsica. The first would be a serious risk, the major threat to the "Mediterranean forest," caused mostly by the negligence of the local population, especially breeders. This is the most widely and commonly recognized notion of the meaning of fire risk. However, another more common and less dramatic fire risk exists, one that was part of "Mediterranean forest" history, that helped shape the forest, and with which local populations have always lived, though sometimes this is forgotten. Those two visions of risk rarely, if ever, come together. This article seeks to demonstrate the elitist social construction of a purportedly major risk which conceals the vulnerability of local territories. Woodlands increase because of low maintenance, leading to the closing of landscapes. These modifications produce vulnerable spatial structures and create new environmental representations. It appears that fire is not the problem but instead the issue is preserving the "Mediterranean forest” as a resource. Interactions between the environment, public policies and other actors of these island territories will be clarified through analysis and comparison of the discourse of various actors (local populations, political leaders, media and scientists).

Keywords

• forest fire
• risk
• vulnerability
• Mediterranean forest
• social construction
• Corsica