Using and improving social capital to increase community preparedness for wildfire

Abstract

Communities with more social capital are better able to work together to cope with problems such as a wildfire threat. This study found a positive relationship between perceiving greater social capital and participating in wildfire preparedness educational programs. Results suggest that managers can take advantage of existing social capital in communities to improve the effectiveness of community outreach education and they can, in turn, use wildfire preparedness education to increase social capital. Because people who perceived higher social capital also were found to be more likely to take action around their homes to reduce their wildfire risk, educational programs that emphasize building social capital may help managers achieve better community preparedness.

Parent Publication

• The public and wildland fire management: social science findings for managers

Citation

Agrawal, Shruti; Monroe, Martha C. 2006. Using and improving social capital to increase community preparedness for wildfire. In: McCaffrey, S.M., tech. ed. The public and wildland fire management: social science findings for managers. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-1. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 163-167.