Measuring Perceptions of Social-Ecological Systems Resilience in Wildfire-Prone Systems in the Intermountain West

Charter Summary:

This research focuses on understanding the perceptions stakeholders hold about social-ecological system (SES) resilience. Using a SES framework, we developed a contextualized set of resilience indicators and will characterize resilience through stakeholder interviews and surveys in fire-prone watersheds across the Intermountain West (IMW). To date we have conducted interviews and surveys with stakeholders in two-fire prone watersheds in Northern Colorado – the Poudre River and Big Thompson River Watersheds. Through stakeholder perceptions, we assessed current and wildfire-driven changes to resilience as well as recommended pre- and post-wildfire management actions and priorities for improving future resilience. Except for watershed processes variability, large scale wildfires did not significantly influence perceived resilience of most ecological indicators in these two watersheds. Wildfire events, however, had strong negative influence on perceived resilience of ecosystem service indicators but were perceived to catalyze benefits in social dimensions of resilience in these two watersheds. In terms of management actions and future resilience, stakeholders underscored a need for increased pace, scale, and connectivity of fuel treatments with particular interest in prescribed fire. While current stakeholder connectivity was high, continued prioritization of partnerships remains a focus for future resilience. Work concluded on this project in May 2023.

Publications

• Cheney, A. 2023. Measuring social-ecological resilience in fire prone systems of northern Colorado [M.S. thesis, Colorado State University]. Mountain Scholar. https://hdl.handle.net/10217/236569