Using expert judgments to understand spatial patterns of forest-based camping: a values-at-risk application

Area of Science:

• Forestry
• Wildfire Management
• Environmental Planning

Background:

• Canadian fire management agencies protect diverse forest values from wildfires.
• Resource allocation for wildfire suppression requires understanding values-at-risk.
• Recreation infrastructure protection is often presumed to cover all recreation values.

Purpose of the Study:

• To spatially map recreation values-at-risk from wildfire.
• To assess if recreation values are limited to infrastructure areas.
• To inform fire management prioritization in Alberta's Rocky Mountains.

Main Methods:

• Expert judgment approach utilizing data from 11 land managers.
• Data collected in 2004 regarding public lands and wildfire prevention.
• Exploratory spatial analysis to identify recreation activity hotspots and cold spots.

Main Results:

• Recreation values extend beyond publicly funded infrastructure.
• Spatial distribution of recreation values-at-risk was identified.
• Hotspots and cold spots of recreation activity were mapped.

Conclusions:

• Recreation values are not solely tied to infrastructure, necessitating broader risk assessment.
• Spatial analysis provides crucial data for prioritizing fire management activities.
• Maps generated will guide fire managers in resource allocation and hazard reduction efforts.