Over the past several decades, wildfire activity in the western U.S. Has increased dramatically

Meanwhile, many rural communities in the western U.S. Have become increasingly dependent on tourism and the outdoor recreation industry. This research project will investigate relationships between wildfires and wildfire smoke, outdoor recreation, and rural economies within the western U.S. The project is relevant to the afri environmental and natural resource economics program area priority and its interests in improving relationships between natural resource management and economic development within rural communities. The project consists of three parts. First, we will use administrative data on reservations to federally-managed campgrounds to estimate causal effects of wildfires and wildfire smoke on recreation site use. Second, we estimate a structural model of recreation site choice to evaluate losses to recreationists due to wildfire smoke. Third, we will use establishment-level microdata on employment to estimate the effects of wildfire-induced shocks on employment in local economies dependent on tourism. The project will provide detailed information regarding behavioral responses of recreationists' to wildfires and smoke across the western U.S.; IT will use a novel travel cost ecosystem service valuation methodology to provide the first evaluation of the consequences of wildfire smoke on recreationist behavior and welfare; and IT will provide new information on how wildfires and wildfire smoke are driving impacts to recreation-dependent rural economies.