Social Cohesion and Collective Fire Management: A Dataset from Rural Communities in Cameroon (Yoko and Nanga-Eboko)

Résumé fourni par la source

The dataset comprises 120 semi-structured interviews collected to assess social cohesion, collective action, institutional trust, and community-based fire management in rural landscapes exposed to bushfire risks. Interviews were conducted in two municipalities of Cameroon: Yoko (n = 84) and Nanga-Eboko (n = 36). The data are stored in an Excel database containing 74 variables that combine socio-demographic characteristics, perceptions, experiences, and governance-related dimensions of bushfire management. The questionnaire captures five main thematic domains: Socio-demographic characteristics Sex, age group, marital status, household size, village, ethnic group, duration of residence, education level, and primary livelihood activity. Bushfire occurrence and impacts Perceived frequency of bushfires, environmental impacts (e.g., biodiversity loss, habitat destruction, crop losses), effects on household income, and estimated economic losses. Social cohesion and collective action Membership in associations or cooperatives, participation in collaborative fire-prevention activities, trust among community actors, collective responsibility for fire management, conflict occurrence, and examples of successful collective actions. Governance, institutions, and communication Trust in state institutions, perceptions of inter-actor collaboration, availability of local fire-prevention strategies, community surveillance groups, early-warning systems, awareness campaigns, communication channels, and knowledge of fire-related regulations. Solidarity and resilience mechanisms Community support networks, fundraising or material assistance for fire victims, access to post-fire assistance, perceived fairness of aid distribution, and recommendations for strengthening solidarity and cooperation. The dataset includes both closed-ended categorical variables and open-ended qualitative responses, enabling mixed-methods analyses of social cohesion and fire governance. The qualitative information provides detailed explanations of trust, collaboration, conflict resolution, institutional performance, and community-led approaches to reducing bushfire risks. The sample is predominantly composed of men (70%), with most respondents aged 25–40 years (41%) or 41–60 years (29%). Agriculture is the principal livelihood activity for the majority of respondents (78%), reflecting the strong dependence of local communities on natural resources and the relevance of bushfire management for rural livelihoods. This dataset helped to study the relationships between social cohesion, collective action, institutional trust, conflict management, and community resilience to wildfire propagation, particularly in fire-prone forest–agricultural landscapes.