Contested fire management: Understanding the trade-offs between traditional and government approaches to fire management and their implications for co

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Despite the scientific evidence as well as the nuancedcultural, spiritual, ecological and economic importance offires for local communities in northern Ghana, governmentpolicies still embrace the simplistic narrative that fireconstitutes a disturbance to savanna ecosystems. Theantifire policies and programmes instituted by theGovernment of Ghana and Non-government Organisationsto promote conservation in savanna areas have induced agrowing sense of injustice and resentment among thosewhose livelihoods depend on these fires. Therefore, ascientific understanding of the drivers of fires and how firemanagement policies impact wider efforts to mitigateconflict between different resource user groups in theseareas, is necessary for developing more equitableapproaches. Hence, the main objective of this study is tounderstand the complex trade-offs of shifting fire regimesand policies in the savanna woodlands of northern Ghanaand whether these policies result in social inequities. Toachieve this, the study will adopt a political ecologyapproach to analyse the issue of power and decision inresource access. The study will employ mixed methods,using remote sensing techniques and local ecologicalknowledge to analyse drivers and trends in patches of burntareas, and a combination of key informant interviews,participatory research methods and stakeholder workshopsto explore institutional arrangements necessary foreffective fire management at national and local levels.