Estimating the economic, social and environmental impacts of wildfires in Australia

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Project Reference: 
Bushfire Economic Costs
TitleEstimating the economic, social and environmental impacts of wildfires in Australia
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsStephenson, C, Handmer, J, Betts, R
JournalEnvironmental Hazards
Pagination1 - 19
Date Published10/2012
ISSN1747-7891
AbstractWildfires often result in widespread destruction and damage to a range of economic, social and environmental assets and functions. This article presents an economic loss assessment framework which has not only been developed to value these assets, but more importantly addresses the fundamental economic principles commonly lacking in other frameworks. Five severe south-eastern Australian wildfires were used as case studies to examine the utility of the framework. The impact and cost data collected as part of this framework provide valuable information for a range of applications, such as measuring the efficacy of government response and recovery arrangements and programmes, shaping policies and providing businesses with disaster information on which they can make decisions. Some areas requiring further research were identified. These included the need to develop consistent values for estimating environmental impacts, in the form of ecosystem service values for south-eastern Australia, and a standardized survey format for valuing a range of indirect economic and social impacts.
DOI10.1080/17477891.2012.703490
Short TitleEnvironmental Hazards
Refereed DesignationRefereed