Research and Publications

Atlas of Bison Conservation
The Atlas of Bison Conservation helps organizations and agencies prioritize where bison restoration might take place. The Atlas also will help users improve their understanding of the economic and demographic conditions in specific areas.

The Three Wests
Research shows that there are three distinctly different types of counties in the West, defined by their access to major markets and population centers. This web-based interactive tool will help community leaders learn more about their county, compare it to others, and consider what other counties have done as future policy options.

Value of Protected Lands
This web page contains regional reports, case studies, tools, and a library of additonal research that Headwaters Economics has completed concerning the value of western protected public lands.

Energy and the West: a Series
We are pleased to launch a nine-part series of research reports designed to assist the public and public officials in making informed choices about energy development. The Energy and the West series considers the impact of energy development on states, counties, and communities, from the perspectives of economic performance and fiscal health. State and local area case studies explore benefits and costs in greater detail.

Montana Wildfire Cost Study: Technical Report
This report examines the ways in which residential development adds to the costs of fighting wildfires, using Montana as a case study. Our findings document a strong correlation between the costs of fighting wildfires and the number of homes threatened and the potential for significant increases in the costs of fire protection if current development trends continue.

The Economy of the Gila Region
This report (2 Meg screen-optimized .pdf) explores the question of whether and how rural, isolated communities can benefit from being gateways to large expanses of public lands. The Gila Region in southern New Mexico and Arizona, with 63 percent of the land in public ownership, is selected as a case study.

Potential for Future Development on Fire-Prone Lands
New data illustrates the potential for more home construction next to fire-prone public lands and the implications for future wildfire fighting costs. Only 14% of forested western private land adjacent to public land is currently developed for residential use. Based on current growth trends, there is tremendous potential for future development on the remaining 86%. Our findings

The Changing Economy of Southeast Alaska
This resource explores the economic conditions of Southeast Alaska, and highlights challenges and opportunities.

The Potential Economic Impacts
of the Badlands Wilderness in Central Oregon
This report explores the question of whether and how designation of the Badlands as Wilderness would benefit the communities and economy of Central Oregon, including Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties.

The Union Pacific Railroad Line,
Timber and Southwest Montana
This report (.pdf) examines the importance of southwest Montana timber to the Union Pacific Railroad line in the state, and the significance of the Union Pacific Railroad as a mode of transportation for lumber and wood products manufacturers in the region.

Timber, Restoration Forestry and Wilderness in Northeast Washington
This report examines northeast Washington's communities and economy to determine the possible impacts of the Northeast Washington Forestry Coalition's "Blueprint" proposal for managing National Forest lands in the region.

Atlas of the Northwest
The Atlas of the Northwest shows areas with high ecological importance, regions where the pace and scale of human activities put pressure on natural resources, and places where there are encouraging opportunities to conserve important natural resources.

Santa Fe National Forest Workshop
We recently hosted a public workshop titled "Know your Social and Economic Situation" for the Santa Fe National Forest. For details about the workshop, discussion notes, and economic analysis, click here.