A framework to guide data collection on the social benefits and costs of post-wildfire reforestation

Natural tree regeneration following uncharacteristically large and severe wildfires is declining in the western United States (U.S.), leading to an increased need for tree planting after fires. With the increasing number of hectares in need of post-wildfire reforestation and supply chain constraints limiting the pace and scale of planting efforts, consideration of the potential social benefits and costs could help prioritize where to intentionally plant and help allocate resources more efficiently. In this paper, we lay out a step-by-step framework to guide future studies in measuring the potential social benefits and costs of post-wildfire tree planting to inform decision-making. This framework draws on similar economic and social frameworks and recent advancements in incorporating more explicit information on benefits and costs into pre-wildfire forest restoration. The steps of this framework include describing the reforestation context, determining the types of costs and benefits to include, and recording values for those costs and benefits. By providing a framework to guide future studies, researchers can generate more standardized data that address knowledge gaps and advance understanding of this topic. New studies could be used to prioritize tree planting in areas that would deliver more social benefits at lower costs, identify new beneficiaries and potential funding sources for planting, and contribute to more holistic wildfire planning and recovery strategies for the western U.S.