Addressing the wicked problem of wildland-urban interface expansion through a transdisciplinary lens

Abstract

The expansion of the wildland-urban interface (WUI), or the areas in which urban infrastructure intermingles with or is adjacent to natural vegetation, is a pressing phenomenon worldwide with consequences for ecological processes, natural resources management, and social and demographic dynamics. WUI areas are multifunctional landscapes subject to competing demands and uses, which makes governance complex, and the planning and management of WUI expansion a wicked problem (or a complex issue without an optimal solution). WUI expansion, however, is often approached just from a fire mitigation perspective, which overlooks the complexity of WUI social-ecological systems and their multiple dimensions. The aim of this dissertation is to advance a comprehensive understanding of WUI areas while exploring opportunities to implement transdisciplinary approaches to WUI planning and management. This is done through the analysis of two case studies including WUI expansion areas in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres: The Roaring Fork Valley in Colorado, United States, and San Martín de los Andes in Neuquén, Argentina. A comparative mixed-method approach that combines policy analysis, semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, participatory mapping, and ecosystem services modeling is used to (1) characterize WUI social-ecological systems from a governance and planning and management perspective, identifying opportunities for adaptability and improvement (chapters 2 and 3), and (2) assess the potential of tools that integrate diverse forms of knowledge to inform spatial planning in WUI areas (chapters 4 and 5). Results indicate that improving WUI planning and management requires integrating environmental and landscape design aspects, including the assessment of changes in ecosystem services provision, and strengthening collaboration among governmental organizations and with the public. Active forms of public participation in WUI planning and management could be formalized through flexible policies with periodic reviews. Participatory mapping proved useful for the co-development of future urban expansion scenarios that could aid WUI spatial planning. However, the integration of these scenarios into ecosystem services modeling led to inconclusive results due to structural uncertainties of the models and local data constraints, limiting the applicability of modeling outputs for WUI planning. Overall, this study deepens understanding of WUI social-ecological systems, emphasizing neglected aspects such as amenity migration, ecosystem service provision, and the importance of transdisciplinary approaches for improving their management and planning.