Outline

• Introduction• Section 1: What is the Wildland-Urban

Interface (WUI)?• Section 2: Key WUI issues in the South• Section 3: Why Focus on the WUI?• Section 4: Skills Needed by Natural Resource

Professionals• Summary

Section 1: What is the Wildland-

Urban Interface?

The WUI can be defined from many perspectives. Some of the major ones are:

•Spatial

•Fire

•Sociopolitical

•Natural Resource

How do you define the WUI?

The Classic Classic InterfaceInterface is an area

of urban sprawl where subdivisions

and other development press

against natural areas

From a spatial perspective the WUI has been variously defined

The IntermixIntermix is an area going

through a transition from agriculture and forest uses to

urban land uses

The Isolated InterfaceIsolated Interface is an area where isolated structures are surrounded by

large areas of vegetation

Wildland-Urban Interface IslandsWildland-Urban Interface Islands are pockets of isolated natural areas within cities and/or

surrounded by urban areas

From a fire fire perspective…

the WUI is a zone where structures are located in or adjacent to areas prone to wildfire

From a sociopoliticalsociopolitical perspective…

the WUI is an area where there is an interaction of different political forces and

potentially competing interests

From a resource resource managementmanagement perspective….

the WUI is an area where increased human influence and land conversion are changing natural resource goods,

services, and management

With so many definitions, how can I know where the WUI is in my area?

A project supported by the USDA Forest Service and the University of Wisconsin-Madison addressed this question by mapping the WUI based on two components:

1) human presence 2) wildland vegetation

They defined two types of WUI – interface and intermix. The two together make up the WUI.

What is most important is not wherewhere it is located but how how key interface issues influence how natural resources are managed and conserved!

Section 2:Key WUI Issues in

the South

Demographic changes in the South

• Population is projected to increase 24% by 2020

• Percentage of the population made up by Hispanics, African Americans, Asians is increasing

• Between 2000 and 2030, number of people aged 65 and over will double

Diverse public attitudes and perceptions

Different age and ethnic groups, new and longtime residents may differ in how they use

and value natural resources

EcoEconomic and taxationtaxation issues

• Property taxes tend to increase in developing areas, affecting the ability of forest landowners to manage or retain forests.

• Heirs are sometimes forced to subdivide or sell family land in order to pay estate taxes.

Land-use planning and policy

• Lack of effective growth management

• No common approach across jurisdictional boundaries

• Regulation of forest practices increases with urbanization

Land Use Change

Increases in urban acreage1982-1992

Major Highways

Increase in urban acreage-100 - 52005201 - 1640016401 - 4190041901 - 91900

Changes to ecosystems

•Fragmented forests

•Decreased air and water quality

•Reduced or degraded wildlife habitat

•Increased non-native invasive plants

Altered ecosystem goods and services

• Tourism and recreation

• Air and water purification

•Food, wood, and decorative products

Risks from increased human influences

FloodsFloods

UrbanizationUrbanization

WindWind FiresFires

Lack of public education

• Education about how ecosystems work

• Information for newcomers

• Science-based information for informed decision making

• Development along boundaries

• Pressures from adjacent owners

• Higher degree of visibility to a greater population

• Problems with trash, fire, non-native invasive plants and animals

Challenges of managing natural resources on public lands

Challenges of managing non-industrial private lands

• Limited small-scale and alternative management options

• Limited markets for traditional forest goods and services

• Lack of information and assistance

Managing fire

• Limited use of prescribed fire

• Concerns with smoke and liability issues

• Alternative fuel reduction methods may be needed

Managing recreation

• Opportunities decreasing on private lands, puts more pressure on public lands

• Need to provide recreation opportunities for diverse users

• Potential for conflict between different user groups

Managing and conserving wildlife

• Conserving, managing, and restoring wildlife habitat is main challenge

• Some species are increasing, others are decreasing

• Balancing desire for contact with wildlife with nuisance complaints

Key WUI issues in 6 locationsacross the South

•Twelve focus groups were conducted in 6 states, 173 participants

•Represented natural resource management, industry, development, conservation, planning, and other related fields

•Some issues were common across all states, others were unique

Summary of focus group findings

Common themes included increased land development, transportation issues, challenges managing natural resources in the interface, changes to ecosystems, ineffective planning, and conflicting perceptions and values.

Some regional differences were noted, such as demographic composition and types of land-use policies utilized.

Some WUI connections

Factors driving change Ecological changes

Land Use Planning

Public Policy

UrbanizationDemographics

Economics and Taxation

Water Quality and Quantity

Non-Native Invasive Species

Forest Fragmentation

Forest Health

Air Quality

Section 3: Why Focus on the WUI?

Changes in the South –- land use, population, demographics – are affecting the ability of natural resource professionals to manage

forests and other natural areas

Natural resource professionals have the opportunity to help maximize ecosystem

goods and services

Resource professionals can also help minimize the risks associated with

urbanization

Resource professionals can provide science-based information about the potential natural resource consequences of land-use decisions

Interface and urban constituencies will have the greatest influence on national and state policies affecting natural resources and their

management

Section 4: Skills Needed by Natural Resource Professionals

New skills and approaches for managing interface forests

• Cross boundary and small scale harvesting

• Protecting trees during development

• Managing amenities

• Forest owner cooperatives

Knowledge of public policy and land-use planning processes

•Be familiar with growth management measures

•Become part of the land- use decision-making process

•Ensure that decisions are made on the best available science

Effective communication skills

Work with variety of audiences

Build partnerships

Resolve conflict

Translate natural resource information into familiar terms

•Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can aid in land-use planning by analyzing land-use trends.

•Land-use modeling can help determine where growth can be accommodated without sacrificing environmentally sensitive land.

Technology

Summary

WUI issues affect the ability of natural resource professionals to work effectively in the WUI.

There are unique opportunities to educate the public, planners, policymakers and others about the importance of natural resources.

Credits

Photos: • Slides 1,5, 6, 11, 12, 23, 25, 26, 28, 31,

33, 38, 39, 42, 45, 46: Larry Korhnak• Slide 1, 5, 10: Cotton Randall• Slides 1, 8: Courtesy of Virginia

Department of Forestry• Slide 21: James Kundell• Slide 30: Courtesy of Virginia Tech• Slide 41: Annie Hermansen-Baez• Slide 44: Dudley Hartel

Maps: • Slides 15-17: Joint project between the USDA Forest

Service, North Central Research Station and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Susan Stewart, Roger Hammer, Volker Radeloff (Slides 14-17).http://silvis.forest.wisc.edu/library/wuilibrary.asp

• Slide 24: Woods and Poole Economics, Inc. 1997. 1997 complete economic and demographic data source. Washington, DC: Woods and Poole Economics.

Literature:• Slides 23, 34-35: Monroe, M; Bowers, A.; Hermansen,

L.A. 2003. The Moving Edge. Gen.Tech. Rep. SRS-63. USDA Forest Service.

Credits

Human Influences on Forest Ecosystems:

The Southern Wildland-Urban

Interface AssessmentGTR SRS-55

For more information about WUI issues refer to: