Abstract: |
Fire weather services ranging from fire weather warnings to special forecasts for hazard reduction burns are important inputs into the decision making processes of fire management authorities that enable effective decision making at various stages of fire management. For example, fire management authorities can preposition personnel and equipment to minimise fire damage based on timely and accurate fire weather forecasts and warnings. The socio-economic value or benefit of the forecasts reflects the improvement in economic and related outcomes resulting from the use of fire weather services. The focus of this study is the socio-economic value or benefit of current and improved fire weather services aimed at prescribed burning in the Victorian region in Australia. The study has three major components. The first relates to the formulation of a conceptual framework to analyse the likely outcomes resulting from the better use of fire weather services in undertaking prescribed burning, and the associated benefits. Depending on the circumstances, these outcomes will relate to improved fuel reduction and reduced incidence of high intensity fires with extensive spread. The associated potential benefits will relate to minimisation or avoidance: of damage to timber assets, private property and public infrastructure; of agricultural production losses; of disruption to other economic activities; of human injury and fatalities; of damage to recreational sites and public amenities; of adverse ecological and environmental impacts; and of adverse effect on public health and general visibility due to smoke dispersion. The second major component of the study relates to an assessment of the associated benefits resulting from the better use of fire weather services. Some of these benefits will have market values and the others non-market values. The final component of the study will make a comparison between the potential socio-economic benefits of the better use of fire weather services aimed at prescribed burning and the costs associated with the provision of the current and improved fire weather services. The benefit-cost comparisons can provide useful information for improvement of existing fire weather programs and also assist in making decisions on future investments in specific activities. |
