How are WUI forests different from rural forests?

While rural forests are secluded from the effects of urbanization and development, WUI forests are directly influenced, with development located in the vicinity of contiguous vegetation. Forests that are embedded in urban landscapes differ environmentally, compositionally, and structurally from rural forests. They are more susceptible to external stresses, such as compaction of soil and physical damages; invasive plants; higher temperatures, which cause changes in microclimate; and exclusion of natural fire regimes. These stresses change forest composition, structure, and consequently function of these ecosystems, causing problems with certain diseases, insects and the general health of the ecosystem. There is a reduction of total forest area and an increase in fragmentation of the remaining parcels in the WUI. Fire issues in the interface pose a new set of problems as a result of the proximity to development, and attract a large amount of public attention. Rural areas rarely get the amount of media attention and public interest that WUI forests receive.