A GIS-based framework for evaluating investments in fire management: Spatial allocation of recreation values

Abstract

The U.S. Forest Service is responsible for developing tools to facilitate effective and efficient fire management on wildlands and urban-wildland interfaces. Existing GIS-based fire modeling software only permits estimation of the costs of fire prevention and mitigation efforts as well as the effects of those efforts on fire behavior. This research demonstrates how the economic benefits of fire management strategies also can be incorporated into a GISbased planning structure. In this paper, spatially delineated wilderness recreation values are derived by allocating per-trip values for hiking from a travel cost analysis to the landscape using the viewshed tool in ArcGIS. Future work will incorporate water supply and real estate values, and develop a cost-benefit analysis framework. This research expands the economic capabilities of the Stewardship and Fireshed Assessment process by enabling decision makers to weigh the benefits of management activities against the costs.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the third international symposium on fire economics, planning, and policy: common problems and approaches

Citation

Baerenklau, Kenneth A.; González-Cabán, Armando; Páez, Catrina I.; Chávez, Edgard. 2009. A GIS-based framework for evaluating investments in fire management: Spatial allocation of recreation values. In: González-Cabán, Armando. 2009. Proceedings of the third international symposium on fire economics, planning, and policy: common problems and approaches. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-227 (English). Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station. pp. 304-313.