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Equity in Wildfire Risk Management: Does Socioeconomic Status Predict Involvement in Federal Programs to Mitigate Wildfire Risk
Ryan S. Ojerio - June 2008
Abstract: Currently, biophysical risk factors figure prominently in federal resource allocation to communities threatened by wildfire. Yet, disaster research demonstrates that socioeconomic characteristics including age, gender, poverty, race, culture, education and political influence impact disaster risk and resilience. Consequently, this thesis evaluates whether federal wildfire program resources are reaching socially vulnerable populations. My hypothesis is that socially vulnerable populations are less likely to be involved in such mitigation efforts because of the emphasis on biophysical risk factors.To evaluate this, biophysical and social vulnerability indicators were linked at the Census Block Group level within the state of Arizona. Regression analysis was applied to evaluate predictors of participation and inclusion in federally funded wildfire mitigation efforts. Findings indicate that resources are focused on areas of high biophysical risk, without regard to social vulnerability. In fact, disadvantaged populations are less likely to be involved in wildfire mitigation efforts than their more affluent counterparts.
Poverty, Capacity, and Wildfire Assistance
Resource Innovations is collaborating with the National Network of Forest Practitioners and the U.S. Forest Service on a project to map community capacity and wildfire assistance dollars. The project is aimed at building greater understanding about where Federal assistance for wildfire protection is directed compared to community needs.
Mapping the Relationship between Wildfire and Poverty - 11/21/05 Report
Please email comments to Kathy Lynn at kathy@uoregon.edu and Wendy Gerlitz at wgerlitz@nnfp.org or call 541-346-0687. Please note that the maps are not included in the report document at this point because of their large file size. Maps can be downloaded below. If you would like any of the maps or the report emailed to you or sent as a smaller file, please let us know.
Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition
Resource Innovations is a core member of the Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition. Resource Innovations has assisted in the development of issue papers on collaboration and performance measures that specifically address assistance for low capacity and underserved communities.
Wildfire and Poverty Report - PDF Document
- Maps
Poverty and Wildland Urban Interface/Inhabited Wildlands
Map 1. OR: Poverty and Wildland Urban Interface/Inhabited Wildlands (1418 kb)
Map 2. WA: Poverty and Wildland Urban Interface/Inhabited Wildlands (1540 kb)
Map 3. National: Poverty and Wildland Urban Interface/Inhabited Wildlands (10991 kb)
Poverty and Protection Capability
Map 4. WA: Fire District Rating and Poverty (675 kb)
Map 5. WA: Fire District Rating, WUI/Inhabited Wildlands, and Poverty (1688 kb)
Federal Land and Poverty
Map 6. OR: Federal Land and Low Income Households within a 5-mile buffer (615 kb)
Map 7. WA: Federal Land and Low Income Households within a 5-mile buffer (1092 kb)
Map 8. National: Federal Land and Low Income Households (4840 kb)
National Fire Plan Grants
Map 9. OR: NFP Grants, Poverty, and Wildland Urban Interface/Inhabited Wildlands (1423 kb)
Map 10. WA: NFP Grants, Poverty, and Wildland Urban Interface/Inhabited Wildlands (1543 kb)
Map 11. Jackson County and Josephine County, Oregon: NFP Grants, Poverty, and Wildland Urban Interface/Inhabited Wildlands (293 kb)
- State Maps
Arizona
California
Colorado
Idaho
New Mexico
Utah
- Background Materials
Focus Groups in Southern Oregon and Central Oregon
Community Capacity and Wildfire Protection: Indicators of Rural, Low Capacity Communities
- Information Sources
Housing and Urban Development Income Limits -
http://www.huduser.org/datasets/il/fmr03/index.html
Insurance Services Office - http://www.isomitigation.com
SILVIS Lab - Wildland Urban Interface Data -
http://silvis.forest.wisc.edu/projects/WUI_Main.asp
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