Comparing the value of fuel treatment options in northern Colorado's urban and wildland–urban interface areas

Urban and Wildland–urban interface (WUI) residents of two counties in Northern Colorado were surveyed to compare residents' values for forest fuels treatment programs. A Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) survey was designed and sent to sample each of four groups: Larimer County WUI, Larimer County urban, Boulder County WUI, and Boulder County urban. Logistic regression models were used to estimate willingness to pay (WTP) and to calculate the odds of voting in favor of each fuel treatment program. We found that residents differed with respect to income, proximity to forested areas, perceived wildfire risk, and attitudes regarding treatment programs. Mean WTP was higher for thinning than for prescribed burning among all four samples. Boulder County residents mean WTP was about 25% higher for both programs than Larimer county residents. These results have potential implications for forest management and policy decisions related to fuels treatments in forested areas at risk of wildfire.