Wildland–Urban Interface Forest Entrepreneurs: A Look at a New Trend

Wildland–Urban interface forest (WUIF) entrepreneurs are finding a niche in fragmenting forests. Most successful entrepreneurs are either scaling down from their forestry and logging backgrounds or scaling up from green industry. They are skilled in some aspects of working with WUIF owners but often need additional tools, including people and marketing skills, business plans based on hourly fee structure, and technical skills such as amenity silviculture and ecology. Successful entrepreneurs emphasize amenity and environmental qualities, offer diverse services and/or are well networked with complementary businesses, have an appropriate suite of equipment, charge by hour and job rather than commission, and have excellent people skills. A thriving WUIF service provider industry is needed for society to have the capacity to manage its urbanizing forest estate.