Abstract
As the need for wildfire adaptation for human populations in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) intensifies in the face of changes that have increased the number of wildfires that exceed 100 thousand acres, it is becoming more important to come to a better understanding of social complexity on the WUI landscape. It is just as important to further our understanding of the social characteristics of the individual human settlements that inhabit that landscape and attempt to craft strategies to improve wildfire adaptation that are commensurate with local values, management preferences, and local capabilities. The case study research presented in this article evaluates social characteristics present in a WUI community that faces extreme wildfire risk to both people and property. It explores social processes that impede the ability of community members to work together collectively to solve problems (e.g., wildfire risk) and offers an alternative perspective about the nature of residency status (i.e., full-time and non-full-time) and its role in influencing wildfire mitigation efforts. This article closes with recommendations intended to facilitate collective action and foster community development.
Highlights
The need to understand the social complexity of human populations in the wildlandurban interface (WUI) as it relates to wildfire risk has been well established [1,2,3,4]
It may not be enough to develop an understanding of particular human WUI populations at a specific point in time as it has been noted that the social characteristics of those populations are not static [5]
This paper extends on research to identify local circumstances and social characteristics that act as barriers to effective community adaptation to wildfire risk [1]
Summary
The need to understand the social complexity of human populations in the wildlandurban interface (WUI) as it relates to wildfire risk has been well established [1,2,3,4]. Previous research that focused on the effects of the increasing numbers and diversity of residents in WUI areas on wildfire risk [6] would suggest a need to generate a better understanding of how demographic shifts may contribute to shifts in social characteristics of WUI populations. Even if there is agreement on mitigation strategies, the two homeowner groups may encounter different barriers in completing tasks that will lower their collective and individual risk [7,9]. Those differences have been found to lead to tensions between homeowner types [10,11]. This case study offers empirically based insights into how differences, exacerbated by WUI emigration and shifts in local social characteristics, can impede strategies to reduce wildfire risk
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