Världsarvet Hälsingegårdar, vegetationsbrand och varsam klimatanpassning -Gammelgården och Bommars idag och i ett framtida klimat - en geografisk riskanalys

Abstract: Decorated Farmhouses of Hälsingland is one of Sweden’s fifteen World Heritages. Climate change impacts affect the sites in different ways. Cycles of drought can result in increased risk of fire in areas surrounding settlement and the cultural heritage. During the fire in Västmanland in 2014 the World Heritage site of Engelsbergs Ironwork were in danger and became water bombed. The incident at Engelsbergs Ironwork initiated this study; a climate change adaptation risk tool were developed with the aim of investigating buildings at risk and vulnerabilities of forest fires today and in future climate. This study described and assessed two decorated farmhouses; Gammelgården and Bommars. The forest fire adaptation tool for built cultural heritage is based on statistics of local forest fires where a GIS analysis provided knowledge of fires and the cause of them occurring. Local, historic knowledge and information of vulnerabilities were gathered and collected in a participatory form with the management during observations at the farmhouse sites. Two climate scenarios, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, were analyzed in a local extreme value assessment which provided information of future forest fire hazards. The result showed that the recommendations of adapting to future forest fire hazards is networking with surrounding actors of vulnerable activities and collaboration with local fire and rescue service in Ljusdal municipality. The study suggested that traditional measures can be implemented in the natural surroundings of the heritages to both increase the resilience against fires and provide strengthened cultural values with mire haymaking, fire birch and traditional forestry. At Gammelgården fires caused by campfires and lightning occurred and measures through information is required at campfire spots; also creation of future fire resilience in the surroundings with a mire haymaking plan. At Bommars nearby fires caused by train brakes recommends measures with reduced speed during drought; also because of the farmhouse surrounding fir forest the measure of fire birch can supply resilience against future firestorms. Traditional forestry is recommended at both sights.