Research Shows Wildfires Impact on Outdoor Recreation in Western U.S.
A study led by Kyle Manley, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Colorado Boulder, has examined the impact of wildfires on outdoor recreation in California and Colorado. The research, which analyzed data from social media, citizen science apps, and cell phone data, found that visitation to burn sites decreased significantly after wildfires. In Colorado, visits dropped by an average of 8% in the first year post-fire, with larger, high-intensity fires causing a 20% decline. The study highlights how severe burns can deter visitors for years, while prescribed burns may not have the same effect.