Terminology

Adjusting to actual or expected future climate by focusing on the reduction of vulnerability to harmful effects of climate change (such as sea-level rise, extreme weather events, food insecurity).

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). (2022). Responding to climate change. Retrieved from: https://climate.nasa.gov/solutions/adaptation-mitigation/

The period(s) of the year during which fires are likely to start, spread, and damage values-at-risk sufficient to warrant organized fire suppression; a period of the year set out and commonly referred to in fire prevention legislation.

Government of British Columbia. (n.d.) Wildfire glossary. Retrieved from:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/about-bcws/glossary#W

Any organic matter, living or dead, in the ground, on the ground, or in the air that can ignite and burn.

Government of British Columbia. (n.d.) Wildfire glossary. Retrieved from: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/about-bcws/glossary#W

Use of fire by various Indigenous, Aboriginal, and tribal peoples to: (1) modify fire regimes, adapting and responding to climate and local environmental conditions to promote desired landscapes, habitats, species, and (2) to increase the abundance of favoured resources to sustain knowledge systems, ceremonial, and substance practices, economies, and livelihoods.

Lake, F. K & Cardinal Christianson, A. (2019). Indigenous fire stewardship. In: Manzello S.(eds) Encyclopedia of Wildfires and Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fires. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51727-8_225-1

An attempt towards claiming autonomy and legitimacy as sovereign authority within the realm of State; it aims to perpetuate notion of cultural and legal pluralism; it is source of Indigenous Peoples’ right to self-determination.

Shrinkal, R. (2021). “Indigenous sovereignty” and right to self-determination in international law: A critical appraisal. AlterNative 17(1), p.71-82. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1177180121994681

Undertaking all efforts to reduce and prevent greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, by reducing sources of these gases or creating alternative storage for these gases; main goal focuses on avoiding significant human interference with the climate system.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). (2022). Responding to climate change. Retrieved from: https://climate.nasa.gov/solutions/adaptation-mitigation/

Wildfires that were highly visible, and, in some cases, posed a threat to public safety.

Government of British Columbia. (n.d.). Wildfire Season Summary. Retrieved from: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/about-bcws/wildfire-history/wildfire-season-summary

The knowledgeable and controlled application of fire to a specific area to accomplish planned resource management objectives. These fires are managed in such a way as to minimize the emission of smoke and maximize the benefits to the site.

Government of British Columbia. (n.d.) Wildfire glossary. Retrieved from: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/about-bcws/glossary#P

Along with nitrogen oxides, precursor compounds of ozone, a major component of smog.

Luber, G. & Lemery, J. (2015). Global Climate Change and Human Health: From Science to Practice. John Wiley & Sons, San Francisco, CA.

An unplanned fire – including unauthorized human-caused fires – occurring on forest or range lands, burning forest vegetation, grass, brush, scrub, peat lands, or a prescribed fire set under regulation which spreads beyond the area authorized for burning.

Government of British Columbia. (n.d.) Wildfire glossary. Retrieved from: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/about-bcws/glossary#W

An area in which development is essentially non-existent, except for roads, railroads, power lines, and similar transportation facilities. Structures, if any, are widely scattered.

Government of British Columbia. (n.d.) Wildfire glossary. Retrieved from: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/about-bcws/glossary#W

Any area where combustible forest fuel is found adjacent to homes, farm structures or other outbuildings. This may occur at the interface, where development and forest fuel (vegetation) meet at a well-defined boundary, or in the intermix, where development and forest fuel intermingle with no clearly defined boundary.

Government of British Columbia. (n.d.) Wildfire glossary. Retrieved from: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status/about-bcws/glossary#F