Trees, Forests and People (Jun 2024)
Community-based fire management and beyond: Role and problems of volunteer fire department shōbōdan in japanese urban spaces and peri-urban forest environments
Abstract
In recent years, international organizations have actively promoted community-based fire management to respect and utilize the wisdom of indigenous knowledge for effective fire management. This approach involves active participation of local actors in managing fires on both private and public lands. Japan, known as a country of multiple natural disasters, has consistently adopted this strategy to manage fire and other hazards primarily caused by natural disasters. This study aims to present the brief history and evolution of the role of volunteer fire departments Shōbōdan since the 17th century, and explore their expanded functions and the challenges they face in contemporary Japanese society. Through a comprehensive literature review using Japanese databases to collect mainly Japanese references published between 2000 and 2024 about Shōbōdan, and ethnographical fieldwork, findings highlights the central role of volunteer fire departments, and their extended burdens not only in managing fire events but also in addressing various types of disaster-related damages. Additionally, the study reveals the serious problems the volunteer fire departments have been facing, primarily due to the aging population, and seeks the possible solutions and changes for the future to sustain their activities.
