Matthew Wibbenmeyer
Fellow
Matthew Wibbenmeyer’s research studies climate impacts and mitigation within the US land sector, with a special emphasis on wildfire impacts and management. US wildfire activity has accelerated in recent years, leading to increases in property damages, carbon emissions, and health impacts due to smoke. Wibbenmeyer’s research studies the impacts of these changes for communities, how these impacts are distributed, and how management choices affect the distribution of impacts. Alongside his work on wildfire, Wibbenmeyer is investigating the role of the US land sector in mitigating climate change, and how policy toward land sector choices may influence the United States' ability to meet climate goals.
Education
- PhD in economics, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2018
- MS in resource conservation, The University of Montana, 2010
- BA in economics, Williams College, 2007
- BA in biology, Williams College, 2007
Featured Content
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Journal Article — Dec 4, 2024
Land-Use Change, No-Net-Loss Policies, and Effects on Carbon Dioxide Removals
A peer-reviewed paper shows that because mature forests store substantially more carbon than young forests, avoiding losses of existing forests provides more carbon storage benefits than adding new forests.
Journal Article — Nov 19, 2024
Enhancing the Economic Feasibility of Fuel Treatment: Market and Policy Pathways for US Federal Lands
Selling biomass collected from wildfire fuel treatment could not cover treatment costs in regions of Idaho and Montana unless prices of small-diameter material were to rise significantly.
Report — Jul 18, 2024
Facing Wildfire Insurance Challenges: Five Lessons from the National Flood Insurance Program
What can the United States' long history of insuring flooding losses teach us about the insurability of wildfires?
Working Paper — May 10, 2024
Sorting Over Wildfire Hazard
This working paper evaluates differences in California households' willingness to accept wildfire risk based on their income level and wildfire experience.
Journal Article — Dec 4, 2024
Land-Use Change, No-Net-Loss Policies, and Effects on Carbon Dioxide Removals
A peer-reviewed paper shows that because mature forests store substantially more carbon than young forests, avoiding losses of existing forests provides more carbon storage benefits than adding new forests.
Journal Article — Nov 19, 2024
Enhancing the Economic Feasibility of Fuel Treatment: Market and Policy Pathways for US Federal Lands
Selling biomass collected from wildfire fuel treatment could not cover treatment costs in regions of Idaho and Montana unless prices of small-diameter material were to rise significantly.
Report — Jul 18, 2024
Facing Wildfire Insurance Challenges: Five Lessons from the National Flood Insurance Program
What can the United States' long history of insuring flooding losses teach us about the insurability of wildfires?
Working Paper — May 10, 2024
Sorting Over Wildfire Hazard
This working paper evaluates differences in California households' willingness to accept wildfire risk based on their income level and wildfire experience.
In Focus — Aug 30, 2023
In Focus: Carbon Emissions from Wildfire
This video shares insights about the record-breaking emissions from Canada’s wildfires and the implications for Canadian, US, and global emissions-reduction efforts, with RFF Fellow Matthew Wibbenmeyer.
Common Resources — Jul 26, 2023
Far-Reaching Smoke Is Raising the Costs of Wildfire Damages
Wildfire smoke can affect people far from blazes and have a serious effect on human health, making it an important part of understanding the cost of wildfire, yet it is often overlooked and underappreciated.
Common Resources — Jun 1, 2023
Disclosing Wildfire Risks in Home Sales
New research finds that disclosing wildfire risks to potential homebuyers in California reduces sale prices.
Common Resources — May 10, 2023
Presenting RFF Data Commons: A Way to Tell Accessible Stories with Data
A new platform from Google and Resources for the Future makes a wealth of data sets accessible with minimal fuss. Meet RFF Data Commons.
Media Highlight — Feb 5, 2024
Smithsonian Magazine: “Six Big Ways Climate Change Could Impact the United States by 2100”
RFF Fellow Matthew Wibbenmeyer comments on the threat of climate-driven wildfire.
Press Release — Oct 19, 2023
Old Forests Store More Carbon than Young Ones—and That Matters for US Climate Goals
A new paper shows that because mature forests store substantially more carbon than young forests, avoiding losses of existing forests provides more carbon storage benefits than adding new forests.
Press Release — Aug 14, 2023
Western US Wildfire Smoke Costs $2.3 Billion per Year in Health Impacts and Lost Enjoyment
A new working paper, published by scholars at RFF and the University of Alaska Anchorage, finds that camping trips to public lands are worth $107 less on average if they are affected by wildfire smoke.
Press Release — Jun 21, 2023
Forests Will Sequester Less Carbon in the Coming Decades
Forests Will Sequester Less Carbon in the Coming Decades