Institutional dependence and social inequalities as drivers of collaborative wildfire response networks in the Pantanal wetland

Wildfires generate severe ecological, economic, and social impacts, leading societies worldwide to seek strategies that foster resilient territories, communities, and ecosystems while adapting to changing fire regimes under climate change. In the Pantanal wetland, wildfire response is especially challenging because diverse social groups coexist and depend on coordinated action and cooperation. This study examines how cattle ranchers and traditional communities interact with one another and with government institutions during wildfire response efforts. We hypothesized that cattle ranchers, due to greater access to resources, land tenure security, and socioeconomic advantages, would possess higher wildfire response capacity and rely less on public institutions. Conversely, traditional communities were expected to depend more strongly on collaborative networks and institutional support. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 67 cattle ranchers and 48 traditional dwellers across 16 municipalities in the Pantanal. Our findings support these expectations. Ranchers generally have greater access to equipment, labor, and financial resources, enabling them to address wildfire crises more autonomously. Being a cattle rancher reduced the likelihood of using formal institutions by 67%. Traditional communities, in contrast, showed lower access to resources and greater dependence on government agencies for wildfire reporting and response. These results demonstrate that social inequalities shape wildfire response capacity by influencing access to resources and collaborative networks. Strengthening collaborative governance among local actors and institutions may therefore be essential to improving wildfire preparedness, response, and resilience throughout the Pantanal. Inclusive policies can reduce vulnerabilities and enhance collective adaptation to increasingly frequent extreme fires across the region.