Wildfire risk information sources and the acceptability of fuels treatments near select WUI communities in the Western United States

Journal of Forest Policy and Economics
By: , and 

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Abstract

Fuels treatments intended to reduce fuel loads and improve forest health on public lands offer one way to reduce wildfire hazards in the wildland-urban interface (WUI), where the natural and built environments meet. However, for fuels treatment implementation to be successful, it must comply with regulatory and scientific standards and be supported by local communities, as lack of acceptance can lead to alterations, delays, or abandonment. To foster support, public land managers can engage directly with residents in communities near treatment areas through various communication channels or engage indirectly through trusted local partners. This research uses paired household survey and observed parcel-level wildfire risk assessment data to investigate wildfire risk information sources' role in the acceptability of fuels treatment approaches on public lands near select WUI communities in the Western United States. We find that information deemed useful from sources is often positively correlated with acceptability, while information deemed not useful is sometimes negatively correlated. Local sources of information tend to be widely received, perceived as useful, and have positive correlations with acceptability, while nonlocal sources vary in their receipt, perceived usefulness, and correlations with acceptability. Public land managers, particularly those from national organizations, may benefit from leveraging and aligning messaging with trusted local partners. Developing fuels treatment plans that consider existing local sentiments may facilitate public trust in managers and acceptability of treatments.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Wildfire risk information sources and the acceptability of fuels treatments near select WUI communities in the Western United States
Series title Journal of Forest Policy and Economics
DOI 10.1016/j.forpol.2025.103537
Volume 176
Year Published 2025
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Contributing office(s) Fort Collins Science Center
Description 103537, 19 p.
Country United States
State Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming
Additional publication details