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Project Code [2024-CE-1249]
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Project title
Wildfire Resilient Cultural Heritage
Primary Funding Agency
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Co-Funding Organisation(s)
Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage,
Lead Organisation
University College Dublin (UCD)
Lead Applicant
Mark Scott
Project Abstract
Wildfire is a natural earth system process in close interactive relationship with human activity since prehistoric times, that has shaped cultural landscapes and defined ways of life. Humans use fire to modify their landscape, clear land for agriculture and development and replenish soil nutrients. At the same time, fire's destructive power endangers livelihoods and landscapes. Anthropogenic climate change disrupts the fine balance between wildfire and humans, directly through its influence on the natural environment and indirectly by impacting on societal structures and behaviours, threatening tangible and intangible cultural heritage. To this day, there is little understanding on the role of wildfire in damaging or creating cultural heritage. FIRECULT aims to fill this gap in knowledge through systematically investigating the links between climate change driven disruption in fire regimes and tangible or intangible cultural heritage. Our consortium comprising international experts in Geography, the Arts, Economics, Forestry and Planning, will apply diverse research methodologies including modelling, artistic analyses, economics, and stakeholder participation to produce novel insights into the climate-human interaction, and develop innovative approaches to heritage conservation vis--vis wildfire. We will draw information from case studies selected in collaboration with local partners in regions with diverse tangible and intangible cultural heritage and fire risk. We will model projected fire risk for cultural landscapes, landmarks and ways of life, quantify potential fire costs, interpret and reimagine the wildfire-heritage relationship through art, and work with local and national stakeholders to synthesize analyses and produce heritage and wildfire management recommendations, contributing to the climate change resilience of cultural heritage.
Grant Approved
€146,641.60
Research Hub
Addressing Climate Change Evidence Needs
Initial Projected Completion Date
28/02/2026