jmeldrum@usgs.gov
IBS Associations
Research Affiliate, Environment and Society Program
Brief Biography
James Meldrum is an applied research economist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Fort Collins Science Center. James specializes in the intersection of human behavior, natural resources, and environmental risks. He has two focus areas:
- Analyzing wildfire risk and developing evidence-based mitigation strategies through partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders, and
- Quantifying the economic implications of natural resource management decisions, often focusing on benefits that are not captured by traditional market transactions.
More broadly, James’s research topics cover many aspects of wildland fire, including mitigation decisions, wildfire risk assessment, and fuels and fire management, as well as natural resource decisions in contexts including ecosystem restoration, electricity generation, and the management of invasive species in forest and sagebrush ecosystems.