Methods for Assessing the Impact of Fire on Forest Recreation PDF Download
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Author: Thomas P. Holmes Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media ISBN: 1402043708 Category : Technology & Engineering Languages : en Pages : 424
Book Description
by Peter J. Roussopoulos, Director, Southern Research Station The world and its ecosystems are repeatedly punctuated by natural disturbances, and human societies must learn to manage this reality Often severe and unp- dictable, dynamic natural forces disrupt human welfare and alter the structure and composition of natural systems Over the past century, land management ag- cies within the United States have relied on science to improve the sustainable management of natural resources Forest economics research can help advance this scientifc basis by integrating knowledge of forest disturbance processes with their economic causes and consequences As the twenty-frst century unfolds, people increasingly seek the goods and services provided by forest ecosystems, not only for wood supply, clean water, and leisure pursuits, but also to establish residential communities that are removed from the hustle and bustle of urban life As vividly demonstrated during the past few years, Santa Ana winds can blow wildfres down from the mountains of California, incinerating homes as readily as vegetation in the canyons below Hurricanes can fatten large swaths of forest land, while associated foods create havoc for urban and rural residents alike Less dramatic, but more insidious, trees and forest stands are succumbing to exotic insects and diseases, causing economic losses to private property values (including timber) as well as scenic and recreation values As human demands on public and private forests expand, science-based solutions need to be identifed so that social needs can be balanced with the vagaries of forest disturbance processes
Author: Sophia Tanner Publisher: ISBN: 9780438760622 Category : Electronic dissertations Languages : en Pages : 188
Book Description
Wildfire frequency and severity are increasingly important issues in the western United States, as fires threaten lives, properties and outdoor amenities. This dissertation seeks to measure the impact of wildfires in Southern California using nonmarket valuation techniques. In the first essay we employ the hedonic property method to estimate how wildfires affect nearby property values. Using data from 15 years of property sales prices and 20 years of wildfire data, we find that the average impact of a wildfire on housing sales price depends on the market context and whether the event increases, decreases, or does not change prior risk perceptions. This suggests that public policy and availability of risk information can be effective tools in capitalizing wildfire risk in housing markets prior to events. The second essay uses evidence from a choice experiment given to respondents who were intercepted at national forest sites to estimate preferences for environmental attributes of recreation sites. Specifically, the main attribute of interest is fire history, where fire history is given by distinct categories in relation to the dominant vegetation at the site. Using conditional logit, random parameters logit, and latent class models, we find that tree cover, compared to shrubs or barren areas, and water are highly desirable attributes, while evidence of past fires decreases the value of a site. Forest fires that reach the crowns of trees are least desirable, while older forest fires and shrub fires have less of a negative effect. We find evidence of significant preference heterogeneity over the vegetation and fire attributes. The third essay combines revealed preference data from site intercepts and stated preference data from online surveys to estimate the welfare impacts of different fire scenarios at recreation sites. We estimate a multi-site zonal travel cost model of trips to hiking and day use sites in the Angeles National Forest. Stated preference data on reduction in trips to recreation sites under different fire history scenarios are used to calibrate the zonal travel cost model and estimate the welfare impacts of fire. The greatest estimated welfare losses are from recent fires that burn all vegetation as opposed to less intense fires or older fires that have had time to recover. For popular recreation sites, these losses from intense fires can total over $1 million in one summer. Applying this method to a large fire that affected many sites in our study area, we illustrate how losses decrease over time, but can continue well after sites are re-opened due to lasting effects on the landscape.