Economics of forest fire management: Spatial accounting of costs and benefits

José J. Sánchez; Ken Baerenklau; Armando Gonzalez-Caban; Kurt Schwabe

Treesearch

Economics of forest fire management: Spatial accounting of costs and benefits

Informally Refereed

Authors:

José J. Sánchez, Ken Baerenklau, Armando Gonzalez-Caban, Kurt Schwabe

Year:

2013

Type:

General Technical Report

Station:

Pacific Southwest Research Station

Source:

In: González-Cabán, Armando, tech. coord. Proceedings of the fourth international symposium on fire economics, planning, and policy: climate change and wildfires. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-245 (English). Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: 81-97

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Abstract

To better evaluate the potential impacts of wildland fire in the San Bernardino National Forest, we developed a geographic information system (GIS) data layer containing nonmarket economic values for the San Jacinto Ranger District. Each pixel in the data layer contains an estimate of the most prominent nonmarket values at that location. This information can be used by forest managers as a decision making aid when deciding how to allocate resources to protect high value areas. To estimate the recreation value component and potential losses due to wildfire, backcountry hikers entering the San Jacinto Wilderness were recruited to complete a web-based survey during the summer of 2012. A travel cost model was used to calculate the associated values. This paper presents preliminary results from the survey and ongoing modeling work.

Parent Publication

Proceedings of the fourth international symposium on fire economics, planning, and policy: climate change and wildfires

Keywords

GIS, Nonmarket valuation, recreation value, travel cost method, viewshed analysis

Citation

Sánchez, José J.; Baerenklau, Ken; González-Cabán, Armando; Schwabe, Kurt. 2013. Economics of forest fire management: Spatial accounting of costs and benefits. In: González-Cabán, Armando, tech. coord. Proceedings of the fourth international symposium on fire economics, planning, and policy: climate change and wildfires. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-245 (English). Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: 81-97.