The devil is in the details: Variation in public acceptance of fuels treatments across western fire-prone communities

Hannah Brenkert-Smith; Julia B. Goolsby; Patricia A. Champ; James R. Meldrum; Colleen Donovan; Carolyn Wagner; Christopher M. Barth; Chiara Forester; Suzanne Witten

Treesearch

The devil is in the details: Variation in public acceptance of fuels treatments across western fire-prone communities

Formally Refereed

Authors:

Hannah Brenkert-Smith, Julia B. Goolsby, Patricia A. Champ, James R. Meldrum, Colleen Donovan, Carolyn Wagner, Christopher M. Barth, Chiara Forester, Suzanne Witten

Year:

2023

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

Western Economics Forum. 21(2): 5-23.

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Abstract

Implementation of broad landscape management goals to confront the wildfire crisis occurs at the project level and is subject to public scrutiny. Although the research literature demonstrates broad public acceptability of fuels treatments, a closer examination of the studies reveals notable variation in acceptance. Survey data from thirteen western U.S. communities using the same measures of acceptability are presented. Results highlight high acceptance with notable variation in treatment type and study location. Results indicate that the devil is in the details.

Keywords

acceptability, fuels treatments, public lands, social data, survey research

Citation

Brenkert-Smith, Hannah; Goolsby, Julia B.; Champ, Patricia A.; Meldrum, James R.; Donovan, Colleen; Wagner, Carolyn; Barth, Christopher M.; Forester, Chiara; Witten, Suzanne. 2023. The devil is in the details: Variation in public acceptance of fuels treatments across western fire-prone communities. Western Economics Forum. 21(2): 5-23.