From informing national conversations on forest management to advancing community-focused research in the Southwest, the ERI Human Dimensions and Partnerships group has had an impactful summer and fall season.
Highlights include:
- Publication of a manuscript on household experiences with flooding in post-fire environments, using Flagstaff survey data to examine risk perceptions, drivers, and mitigation actions.
- Research on resident perceptions of smoke from prescribed fires, showing strong support for forest management and fire’s ecological role, while identifying opportunities to expand messaging around air quality resources. A manuscript has been submitted for peer review, with a white paper forthcoming.
- Participation in the 9th American Forest Congress in Washington, D.C., contributing to national discussions on future forest management resolutions.
- Hosting a “Fire and Forest Restoration Social Science in the Southwest” session at the Biennial Conference on Science and Management in Flagstaff, with presentations on collaborative forest management, smoke impacts during prescribed fires, and incentives to manage fires for resource objectives.
- Ongoing interviews to better understand how forest collaboratives engage diverse stakeholders in the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP), with early findings highlighting the importance of balancing flexibility and structure, stable funding, and agency culture of collaboration.
