Institutional Obstacles to Success in Implementing a Statewide Community-Based Fire Planning Mandate

This paper examines institutional barriers to a statewide system of community-based wildfire planning strategies called for by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire). The mandate relied on local leadership due to lack of enforceable standards and performance-based management incentives. CalFire’s plans were strongly supported by the agency and well-funded by the legislature. Today, the plans are challenged by lack of currency and erosion of stakeholder involvement, major challenges to all decentralized natural resource agencies. The challenges include conflicts between state policymakers and local leaders, the lack of performance-based rewards or penalties and a clear framework for local implementation. We also explore ways to improve implementation.