Why should natural resource professionals focus on wildland-urban interface issues?

There are many reasons, some of which are:
(1) The South is undergoing tremendous change -- land-use change, population pressures, demographic shifts, and much more -- with no end in sight. These changes are having and will continue to have dramatic effects on the sustainability of forests and other natural areas. They will affect the ability of natural resource professionals to manage forests and other natural areas for critical ecosystem goods, services, and benefits;
(2) Urbanization alters natural disturbance regimes, increasing the risk of natural disasters such as catastrophic fires and floods, which consequently compromises public health and safety. Natural resource professionals have the opportunity to help maximize the ecosystem goods and services while minimizing the risks of urbanization; and
(3) Interface and urban areas are where the majority of the population lives; hence interface and urban constituencies will have the greatest impact on national and state policies affecting natural resources and the management of public lands.