Damages and Costs of Forest Wildfires in New Zealand Using Satellite Data

Elodie Blanc () and Ilan Noy
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Elodie Blanc: Motu Economic and Public Policy Research

Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, 2024, vol. 8, issue 3, No 5, 473-488

Abstract: Abstract We estimate wildfire impacts on Aotearoa New Zealand forests, focusing specifically on impacts in terms of vegetation recovery and costs. To this end, we use satellite-derived imagery of fire intensity and a vegetation index to measure burn severity and vegetation recovery. We then calculate profitability costs and post-fire remediation and clearing costs, estimated under various wildfire intensity scenarios, to determine the total cost of wildfires. We conclude, maybe unsurprisingly, that forests subject to high-intensity fires take longer to recover than those suffering medium- and low-intensity fires. The economic cost is also higher for higher-intensity fires, averaging 18,000 NZ$/Ha, but due to the small relative share of high-intensity fires, it is the medium-intensity fires that cause the most economic damages in New Zealand.

Keywords: Wildfires; Economic costs; Remote sensing; Vegetation index; New Zealand (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q23 Q54 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1007/s41885-024-00162-4

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