The Wildlands Urban Interface (WUI) is the fastest growing area of housing growth in California, and a leading cause of wildfire, habitat fragmentation, and climate change. Yet little is known about what drives this growth — including the potential role of local housing pressures alongside personal and cultural preferences. As a result, we also have little context to understand changing WUI demographics, socio-environmental dynamics, and community needs. In this presentation, faculty, students and community partners will share our preliminary findings from two years of research — including surveys, interviews, and mapping – in the WUI of the greater Santa Cruz County region, with a particular focus on the San Lorenzo Valley. We will then lead small group discussions for community feedback, which will inform the final phase of the research and potential recommendations to emerge from the project. Presented by the UCSC-based, community engaged research project, “Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Research for Resilience," with support from the UC Climate Action Research Initiative.