James Meldrum (USGS-FORT) presents the results of a study about community preparedness for wildfire conducted with the City of Santa Fe Fire Department in front of a general public audience of Santa Fe, New Mexico, community members, May 2023.
James R Meldrum, PhD
James Meldrum is an economist in the Social and Economic Analysis Branch at the Fort Collins Science Center. His primary research focus is measuring, modeling, and understanding human relationships with natural resources.
James' economics and applied social science work spans many areas of interest to the USGS and our federal and non-federal partners. His main research topics include measuring, modeling, and understanding human relationships with natural resources, especially through the lens of ecosystem services, and with natural hazards, especially focused on mitigating the risks of wildland fire. James is a founding member of the Wildfire Research (WiRē) Team, an interdisciplinary collaboration focused on coproducing science in support of community wildfire adaptedness and wildfire risk mitigation on private lands, and he is an active participant in numerous USGS- and DOI-wide communities of practice.
Research Interests
- Environmental economics
- Wildfire risk mitigation
- Ecosystem services
- Behavioral economics
Professional Experience
Research Economist; U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Colorado; June 2016 to present
Research Associate; University of Colorado Boulder, Institute of Behavioral Science (IBS) and Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES); 2012 to 2016
Policy Analysis Intern; National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Strategic Energy Analysis Center, Golden, Colorado; 2011 to 2012
Engineering Physicist; Stereotaxis, Inc., Systems Group, St. Louis, Missouri; 2005 to 2006
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 2012, University of Colorado Boulder Environmental Studies Program, focus on Environmental Economics
M.S. 2010, University of Colorado Boulder Environmental Studies Program, focus on Environmental Economics
B.S. 2005, Washington University in St. Louis School of Engineering and Applied Science, Primary major in Physics with a secondary major in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology
Science and Products
Wildlife Economics
Identifying Chains of Consequences and Interventions for Post-fire Hazards and Impacts to Resources and Ecosystems
Economic assessment of addressing annual invasive grasses across the sagebrush biome
Social and Economic Analysis (SEA) Branch
Contributions to the development of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Sagebrush Conservation Strategy
Joint Fire Science Program Evaluation
Economic Implications of Sagebrush Treatment and Restoration Practices Across the Great Basin and Wyoming
Economics and Ecosystem Services
Tools for Public Land Managers
Economics of Outdoor Recreation
Value of Science
Economics of Invasive Species
Household survey data about participation in wildfire risk mitigation cost-share in western Colorado 2013-2017
The Wildfire Hazard and Risk Assessment Inventory
Online survey responses from users of the Joint Fire Science Program Fire Science Exchange Network from February 2021
James Meldrum (USGS-FORT) presents the results of a study about community preparedness for wildfire conducted with the City of Santa Fe Fire Department in front of a general public audience of Santa Fe, New Mexico, community members, May 2023.
Living with wildfire in Lake Wenatchee, Chelan County, Washington: 2022 Data report
Living with wildfire in Stemilt Basin, Chelan County, Washington: 2022 Data report
Living with wildfire in Santa Fe: 2021 Data Report
Rethinking cost-share programs in consideration of economic equity: A case study of wildfire risk mitigation assistance for private landowners
The devil is in the details: Variation in public acceptance of fuels treatments across western fire-prone communities
Living with wildfire in Genesee Fire Protection District, Jefferson County, Colorado: 2022 data report
Considering pollinators' ecosystem services in the remediation and restoration of contaminated lands: Overview of research and its gaps
Estimating proximity effects to wildfire fuels treatments on house prices in Cibola National Forest, New Mexico, USA
Living with wildfire in Emigration Canyon, Utah: 2022 data report
Trends, impacts, and cost of catastrophic and frequent wildfires in the sagebrush biome
Living with wildfire in Park County, Colorado 2021 data report
An economic perspective on the relationship between wilderness and water resources
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
USGS Wildfire Hazard and Risk Assessment Clearinghouse
This online tool was designed to help identify which wildfire hazard and risk assessments are available across the United States. It provides information about available risk assessments and links to assessment data when publicly available.
Science and Products
Wildlife Economics
Identifying Chains of Consequences and Interventions for Post-fire Hazards and Impacts to Resources and Ecosystems
Economic assessment of addressing annual invasive grasses across the sagebrush biome
Social and Economic Analysis (SEA) Branch
Contributions to the development of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Sagebrush Conservation Strategy
Joint Fire Science Program Evaluation
Economic Implications of Sagebrush Treatment and Restoration Practices Across the Great Basin and Wyoming
Economics and Ecosystem Services
Tools for Public Land Managers
Economics of Outdoor Recreation
Value of Science
Economics of Invasive Species
Household survey data about participation in wildfire risk mitigation cost-share in western Colorado 2013-2017
The Wildfire Hazard and Risk Assessment Inventory
Online survey responses from users of the Joint Fire Science Program Fire Science Exchange Network from February 2021
James Meldrum (USGS-FORT) presents the results of a study about community preparedness for wildfire conducted with the City of Santa Fe Fire Department in front of a general public audience of Santa Fe, New Mexico, community members, May 2023.
James Meldrum (USGS-FORT) presents the results of a study about community preparedness for wildfire conducted with the City of Santa Fe Fire Department in front of a general public audience of Santa Fe, New Mexico, community members, May 2023.
Living with wildfire in Lake Wenatchee, Chelan County, Washington: 2022 Data report
Living with wildfire in Stemilt Basin, Chelan County, Washington: 2022 Data report
Living with wildfire in Santa Fe: 2021 Data Report
Rethinking cost-share programs in consideration of economic equity: A case study of wildfire risk mitigation assistance for private landowners
The devil is in the details: Variation in public acceptance of fuels treatments across western fire-prone communities
Living with wildfire in Genesee Fire Protection District, Jefferson County, Colorado: 2022 data report
Considering pollinators' ecosystem services in the remediation and restoration of contaminated lands: Overview of research and its gaps
Estimating proximity effects to wildfire fuels treatments on house prices in Cibola National Forest, New Mexico, USA
Living with wildfire in Emigration Canyon, Utah: 2022 data report
Trends, impacts, and cost of catastrophic and frequent wildfires in the sagebrush biome
Living with wildfire in Park County, Colorado 2021 data report
An economic perspective on the relationship between wilderness and water resources
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
USGS Wildfire Hazard and Risk Assessment Clearinghouse
This online tool was designed to help identify which wildfire hazard and risk assessments are available across the United States. It provides information about available risk assessments and links to assessment data when publicly available.