The Economics of Forest Disturbances

by Peter J. Roussopoulos, Director, Southern Research Station The world and its ecosystems are repeatedly punctuated by natural disturbances, and human societies must learn to manage this reality Often severe and unp- dictable, dynamic natural forces disrupt human welfare and alter the structure and composition of natural systems Over the past century, land management ag- cies within the United States have relied on science to improve the sustainable management of natural resources Forest economics research can help advance this scientifc basis by integrating knowledge of forest disturbance processes with their economic causes and consequences As the twenty-frst century unfolds, people increasingly seek the goods and services provided by forest ecosystems, not only for wood supply, clean water, and leisure pursuits, but also to establish residential communities that are removed from the hustle and bustle of urban life As vividly demonstrated during the past few years, Santa Ana winds can blow wildfres down from the mountains of California, incinerating homes as readily as vegetation in the canyons below Hurricanes can fatten large swaths of forest land, while associated foods create havoc for urban and rural residents alike Less dramatic, but more insidious, trees and forest stands are succumbing to exotic insects and diseases, causing economic losses to private property values (including timber) as well as scenic and recreation values As human demands on public and private forests expand, science-based solutions need to be identifed so that social needs can be balanced with the vagaries of forest disturbance processes

The first book to evaluate the economic aspects of natural forest disturbances

The Economics and Ecology of Forest Disturbances.- An Introduction to the Economics of Forest Disturbance.- Forest Economics, Natural Disturbances and the New Ecology.- Forest Disturbance Processes.- Natural Disturbance Production Functions.- Statistical Analysis of Large Wildfires.- The Production of Large and Small Wildfires.- Climatology for Wildfire Management.- Wildland Arson Management.- Valuing the Economic Impacts of Forest Disturbances.- Designing Economic Impact Assessments for USFS Wildfire Programs.- Timber Salvage Economics.- Wildfire and the Economic Value of Wilderness Recreation.- Forest Disturbance Impacts on Residential Property Values.- Contingent Valuation of Fuel Hazard Reduction Treatments.- Decision Making in Response to Forest Disturbances.- Analyzing Trade-Offs Between Fuels Management, Suppression, and Damages from Wildfire.- A Review of State and Local Regulation for Wildfire Mitigation.- Economic Analysis of Federal Wildfire Management Programs.- Incentives and Wildfire Management in the United States.- Forecasting Wildfire Suppression Expenditures for the United States Forest Service.- Toward a Unified Economic Theory of Fire Program Analysis with Strategies for Empirical Modeling.- Economic Aspects of Invasive Forest Pest Management.

This unique, state-of-the-art review shows that neo-classical economic principles can be integrated with ecosystem analysis and modern econometric methods to uncover the causes and consequences of natural forest disturbances.