Responsibility of Environmental Management Policy: Forest Fires As a Case of Adverse Effects

It is generally known that forest fires are one of the main factors of environmental degradation. Although a great deal of scientific literature on this issue exists, little progress has been made to help us understand and explain the reasons for their appearance. In this work we highlight how forest fires can also be the result of adverse effects of environmental policies such as those related to the management of the forest fires emergency. With regard to the area of the Gargano National Park (Southern Italy) and with the use of a panel data technique, we attempt to observe the forest fires phenomenon related to some of the socioeconomic conditions there existing. We find a significant statistical relationship between the number of forest fires and the unemployment level in the area. This result provides evidence to argue that when environmental safeguarding policies are set up, it is important to take into consideration the socio-economic conditions existing in the area where they are to be implemented, if the probability of adverse effects are to be avoided and a more socially responsible legislative framework is to be established.