Research
Cost-benefit analysis of grazing scenarios designed to reduce wildfire risk at Pu'u Wa'awa'a Forest Reserve
Wildfires fueled by flammable invasive grasses are considered the greatest threat to Hawaii's native dry forest ecosystem. Pu'u Wa'awa'a Forest Reserve, Hawaii's largest remaining native dry forest, is home to many endangered plants and animals, some with few specimens left in the wild.
Targeted cattle grazing can reduce fuels and fire risk. I am updating the Pu'u Wa'awa'a grazing management plan to address this issue; incorporating fire science, ecology, modern cattle production and traditional grazing practices.
The benefits and costs of commercial grazing relative to fire impacts, including integration of grazing and conservation, has not been studied in Hawaii. The extent of available data to assess these benefits and costs are not known, so this study aims to identify data gaps and provide baseline knowledge. The purpose of this analysis is to parcel out all costs/benefits so that policy makers and ranchers can make better management decisions and ultimately reduce wildfire risk.
This is a project of the NREM Wildland Fire Program, with partial funding from Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
Wildfires fueled by flammable invasive grasses are considered the greatest threat to Hawaii's native dry forest ecosystem. Pu'u Wa'awa'a Forest Reserve, Hawaii's largest remaining native dry forest, is home to many endangered plants and animals, some with few specimens left in the wild.
Targeted cattle grazing can reduce fuels and fire risk. I am updating the Pu'u Wa'awa'a grazing management plan to address this issue; incorporating fire science, ecology, modern cattle production and traditional grazing practices.
The benefits and costs of commercial grazing relative to fire impacts, including integration of grazing and conservation, has not been studied in Hawaii. The extent of available data to assess these benefits and costs are not known, so this study aims to identify data gaps and provide baseline knowledge. The purpose of this analysis is to parcel out all costs/benefits so that policy makers and ranchers can make better management decisions and ultimately reduce wildfire risk.
This is a project of the NREM Wildland Fire Program, with partial funding from Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
Advisors
Dr. Clay Trauernicht PhD Plant Science
https://www.nrem-fire.org/clay-trauernicht
Dr. Linda Cox, PhD Agricultural Economics
https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/CoxL/
Dr. Kimberly Burnett PhD Economics
http://www2.hawaii.edu/~kburnett/
Dr. Clay Trauernicht PhD Plant Science
https://www.nrem-fire.org/clay-trauernicht
Dr. Linda Cox, PhD Agricultural Economics
https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/CoxL/
Dr. Kimberly Burnett PhD Economics
http://www2.hawaii.edu/~kburnett/