Paper short abstract:

Climate change has been seen as the cause of a severe drought last summer in south-central Chile. Being national parks vulnerable areas regarding wildfires because of their forests, I propose an analysis of how rangers face drastic changes in weather and other wildfire risk elements in their job.

Paper long abstract:

During the 2015 summer, an extensive drought affected south-central Chile, increasing dramatically the risk of wildfires. When these occurred, they did with particular violence, affecting several regions and forested areas, including two national reserves and a national park. Technical blunders were identified at the level of the institutions in charge of the emergency, amidst a central government scandal and other "natural disasters" (i.e: volcanic eruption; floods in the desertic north).

Contrary to popular images regarding park rangers, summer work was not focused on wildlife research or related issues, but on the prevention of wildfires. Notions of "climate change" acted as a shadowy background when weather forecasts and the skies were insistently checked, for rain that did not arrive, openly called "the blue gold".

As wildfires in the north advanced consuming almost entirely a national reserve, different discourses and practices were adopted by local rangers in relation to the situation. Reflections on the way in which concepts such as "risk" and "danger" were used, together with interpretations of weather and various environmental elements will be discussed. With this, narratives concerning institutional "blame", perceptual attunement with the place and cognitive aspects in knowledge production concerning environmental dangers will be also considered.

I propose that danger and risk are the main driving forces in the way in which conservation is thought and implemented by the government. Acting as a general mindset, notions of impending disasters mould policies and practical engagements between actors and also relations with the non-human in the environment.