Considering sustainability trade-offs in bushfire policy for the wildland-urban interface

ABSTRACT In Australia, bushfire risk in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) is increasing due to climate change and urbanisation. Like other complex issues, policy strategies for addressing bushfire risk are multi-faceted, involve diverse stakeholders, and are highly contested. Based on a case study of south-west Western Australia (south-west WA), we identify three key policy strategies for adapting to increased bushfire risk in WUI areas: broad-scaled prescribed burning, local bushfire risk management and land-use planning. We examine these policy strategies, firstly, to contrast their institutional arrangements and framing of goals and actions, and, secondly, to explore sustainability trade-offs. This analysis found that all policy strategies for adapting to increased bushfire risk in WUI areas have sustainability trade-offs that need to be considered. In particular, the research identified that the current bushfire policy regime has likely consequences for biodiversity conservation, nature-based interactions, health and wellbeing and local economic development. We argue that to avoid maladaptation, more sophisticated models of risk assessment, which consider the sustainability trade-offs of bushfire policy decisions and actions are needed.