Sociocultural mapping of ecosystem service values can inform where to mitigate wildfire risk: a case study from Colorado

Abstract

Accounting for ecosystem service values in wildfire risk mitigation remains a challenge. In this study we utilize public participatory GIS methods to measure ecosystem service values and overlay those values with maps of wildfire hazard. Our first objective is to understand sociocultural demand for ecosystem services, and our second objective is to show how non-monetary ecosystem service valuation methods can be used to inform wildfire risk mitigation decisions. Regulating ecosystem services, such as water quality, biodiversity/habitat, and air quality, along with recreation and aesthetics, were the most highly valued ecosystem services in our study. These ecosystem service values were clustered around roads, towns, and water features and correlated with accessibility, education, and income. These values also had significant overlap with wildfire hazard, suggesting that this non-monetary mapping approach could provide a more participatory method of incorporating people’s preferences into decisions about where to target wildfire mitigation efforts.