Wildfires as Political Weapons: Research Activities and Public Engagement in Bolivia
Last week, our Principal Investigator, Prof. Lorenza Fontana, was in Bolivia for a series of research and outreach activities carried out within the framework of FIREPOL and Playing with Wildfire projects. On Monday, March 16, she held a coding meeting with members of the research team to discuss recent progress and coordinate ongoing work with […]
WORKSHOP CONAFOR: Programa de Manejo del Fuego 2026–2050
On March 9, 2026, our postdoctoral researcher Dr. Luisa Escobar was invited to participate in a workshop dedicated to the development of the Integrated Fire Management Plan for Mexico 2025–2050, led by CONAFOR (National Forest Commission). The initiative brought together around 80 participants, including representatives from ejidos and local communities, firefighting personnel, municipal and state […]
New Publication – Fires of war: how civil war shaped fire regimes in East Angola
We are pleased to share that our Post-Doctorate Fellow Luisa Fernanda Escobar Alvarado has published a new article investigating the impact of the Angolan civil war on fire activity. Below all the information about it (full list of authors, link, abstract). Escobar-Alvarado, L. F., L. B. Fontana, J. A. Fisher, E. Kaula, T. E. M. […]
Seminar – (Im)mobility of Fire
Exploring the Relationships between the Mobilities of Humans and Non-humans. On the 28th of November, our Phd candidate, Greta Mazzocchi, will deliver a seminar at Laboratório de Imagem e Som em Antropologia da Universidade de São Paulo (LISA-USP). She is a PhD candidate in Urban and Regional Studies in the inter-university program of the Politecnico […]
Call for Papers: Politics, Land and Fire – POLLEN 2026 conference
CALL FOR PAPERS! FIREPOL will participate in the 2026 POLLEN Conference in Barcelona! We are joining forces with Michelle Valette (Imperial College London) and Kapil Yadav (Royal Holloway, University of London) to organize a panel on “Power, Land, and Fire: Crisis Narratives and Burning Practices”. This panel explores the political ecology of fire, focusing on the […]
News from Lisima, east Angola: a step forward for FIREPOL’s work on inclusive fire governance!
We’re excited to share that we’ve launched a new phase of our work supporting communities in southeast Angola to co-develop a fire management plan that is grounded in local realities and knowledge. At the heart of this effort is Legislative Theatre, an innovative, participatory method that brings people together to explore challenges and shape policy through performance and collective […]
Field Notes: Researching controlled burns within the Reserva Nacional de Iberá
FIREPOL’s postdoctoral researcher Nicola Manghi recently traveled to Argentina to investigate the uses of fire in the Ituzaingó department, Corrientes Province. In collaboration with Prof. Brian Ferrero (CONICET), Adriana Millán (CONICET), and Fernando Laprovitta (UNNE), Nicola conducted research activities in diverse locations, including Isla Apipé Grande and Reserva Don Luis within the Reserva Nacional de […]
GLOBAL FIRE MANAGEMENT HUB Plenary 2025
FIREPOL Principal Investigator, Professor Lorenza Fontana, participated in the Global Fire Management Hub Plenary organized by FAO from the 10th to the 12th of June in Rome. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.Its goal is to achieve food security for […]
Field Notes: Researching controlled burns in the Omkoi District
The FIREPOL team returned to the Omkoi District in Northern Thailand to study fire practices and local livelihoods, particularly in relation to the foraging of hed thob mushrooms. We interviewed leaders and members of indigenous communities in the highlands across Chiang Mai Province and participated in their daily activities, including preparing firebreaks and collecting red ant eggs.
The Politics of Flames: Rethinking Fires as Social Phenomena
In recent years, the mega wildfires that have struck our planet have shaken public opinion, sparking a global debate. For the first time, the discussion has not only focused on environmental disasters but also on the political responsibilities that fuel them. Yet, the academic world is still lagging behind in truly understanding how central politics […]
