Southern
Research Station

Education

Ph.D. in Sociology, 2001

University of Georgia

M.A. in Sociology, 1995

University of Georgia

Featured Publications and Products

• Johnson, Cassandra; Emery, Marla. 2020. “Black Folks Do Forage”: Examining Wild Food Gathering in Southeast Atlanta Communities.
• Johnson Gaither, Cassandra; Himmelfarb, David; Hitchner, Sarah; Schelhas, John; Shepherd, J. Marshall; K.C., Binita. 2016. "Where the sidewalk ends": sustainable mobility in Atlanta's Cascade community.
• Johnson Gaither, Cassandra . 2019. Socioecological Production of Parks in Atlanta, Georgia's Proctor Creek Watershed: Creating Ecosystem Services or Negative Externalities?.
• Aragon, Amanda ; Johnson Gaither, Cassandra ; Madden, Marguerite ; Goodrick, Scott . 2019. The “efficiency concern”: Exploring wildfire risk on heirs’ property in Macon‑Bibb County, Georgia, United States of America.
• Gaither, Cassandra J.; Carpenter, Ann ; Lloyd McCurty, Tracy ; Toering, Sara . 2019. Heirs’ property and land fractionation: fostering stable ownership to prevent land loss and abandonment.
• Schumann, Ronald L.; Mockrin, Miranda ; Syphard, Alexandra D.; Whittaker, Joshua ; Price, Owen ; Gaither, Cassandra Johnson; Emrich, Christopher T.; Butsic, Van . 2020. Wildfire recovery as a “hot moment” for creating fire-adapted communities.
• Barger, Brian ; Larson, Lincoln R.; Ogletree, Scott ; Torquati, Julia ; Rosenberg, Steven ; Gaither, Cassandra Johnson; Bartz, Jody Marie; Gardner, Andrew ; Moody, Eric . 2020. Tree canopy coverage predicts lower conduct problem severity in children with ASD.
• KC, Binita ; Shepherd, J. M.; King, Anthony W.; Johnson Gaither, Cassandra ; Johnson, Cassandra. 2020. Multi-hazard climate risk projections for the United States.

Publications

• Johnson Gaither, Cassandra ; Cross, Denzell A.; Dobbs, G. Rebecca. 2022. Exploring transiency in four urban forest patch neighborhoods: Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
• Barger, Brian ; Torquati, Julia ; Larson, Lincoln ; Bartz, Jody Marie; Johnson-Gaither, Cassandra ; Gardner, Andrew ; Moody, Eric ; Rosenberg, Steven ; Schutte, Anne ; Murray, Margaret ; Schram, Bridgette M. 2021. Measuring green space effects on attention and stress in children and youth: A scoping review.
• Gaither, Cassandra Johnson. 2019. Appalachia's "Big White Ghettos": Exploring the role of heirs' property in the reproduction of housing vulnerability in eastern Kentucky.
• Aragón, Amanda ; Gaither, Cassandra Johnson; Madden, Marguerite ; Goodrick, Scott . 2019. The “Efficiency Concern”: Exploring wildfire risk on heirs’ property in Macon‑Bibb County, Georgia, United States of America.
• Gaither, Cassandra Johnson; Kuehler, Eric ; Zipperer, Wayne ; Aka, Ebenezer O.; Barger, Brian . 2019. Trees and trash: Examining the link between urban forest engagement and blight in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
• Schumann, Ronald; Mockrin, Miranda; Syphard, Alexandra; Whittaker, Joshua; Price, Owen; Johnson, Cassandra; Emrich, Christopher; Bustic, Van. 2019. Wildfire recovery as a “hot moment” for creating fire-adapted communities.
• Larson, Lincoln R.; Barger, Brian ; Ogletree, Scott ; Torquati, Julia ; Rosenberg, Steven ; Gaither, Cassandra Johnson; Bartz, Jody Marie; Gardner, Andrew ; Moody, Eric ; Schutte, Anne . 2018. Gray space and green space proximity associated with higher anxiety in youth with autism.
• Palardy, Nathan P.; Boley, B. Bynum; Gaither, Cassandra Johnson. 2018. Resident support for urban greenways across diverse neighborhoods: Comparing two Atlanta BeltLine segments.
• Palardy, Nathan P.; Boley, B. Bynum; Gaither, Cassandra Johnson. 2018. Residents and urban greenways:  Modeling support for the Atlanta BeltLine.
• Hitchner, Sarah; Schelhas, John; Johnson Gaither, Cassandra. 2017. A privilege and a challenge: valuation of heirs' property by African American landowners and implications for forest management in the southeastern U.S.
• Pippin, Scott; Jones, Shana; Johnson Gaither, Cassandra. 2017. Identifying potential heirs properties in the Southeastern United States: a new GIS methodology utilizing mass appraisal data.
• Johnson Gaither, Cassandra Y. 2017. Spatial dimensions of heirs’ property in Maverick County, TX.
• Weber, Sarah;  Boley, B. Bynum;  Palardy, Nathan;  Johnson Gaither, Cassandra. 2017. The Impact of urban greenways on residential concerns: Findings from the Atlanta BeltLine Trail.
• Johnson Gaither, Cassandra; Zarnoch, Stanley J. 2017. Unearthing ‘dead capital’: Heirs’ property prediction in two U.S. southern counties.
• Schelhas, John; Hitchner, Sarah; Johnson Gaither, Cassandra; Jennings, Viniece. 2017. “Sunshine, sweat, and tears”: African-American ties to land and forests in the south.
• Schelhas, John; Hitchner, Sarah; Johnson Gaither, Cassandra; Fraser, Rory; Jennings, Viniece; Diop, Amadou. 2016. Engaging African American landowners in sustainable forest management.
• Johnson Gaither, Cassandra. 2016. “Have not our weary feet come to the place for which our fathers sighed?”: heirs’ property in the southern United States.
• Johnson Gaither, Cassandra; Goodrick, Scott; Murphy, Bryn Elise; Poudyal, Neelam. 2015. An exploratory spatial analysis of social vulnerability and smoke plum dispersion in the U.S.
• Jennings, Viniece; Johnson Gaither, Cassandra. 2015. Approaching environmental health disparities and green spaces: An ecosystem services perspective.
• KC, Binita; Shepherd, J. Marshall; Johnson Gaither, Cassandra. 2015. Climate change vulnerability assessment in Georgia.
• Boley, B. Bynum; Johnson Gaither, Cassandra. 2015. Exploring empowerment within the Gullah Geechee cultural heritage corridor: implications for heritage tourism development in the Lowcountry.
• Walton, Z.L.; Poudyal, N.C.; Hepinstall, J.; Johnson Gaither, C.; Boley, B.B. 2015. Exploring the role of forest resources in reducing community vulnerability to the heat effects of climate change.
• Gan, Jianbang; Jarrett, Adam; Johnson Gaither, Cassandra. 2015. Landowner response to wildfire risk: Adaptation, mitigation or doing nothing.
• Johnson Gaither, Cassandra; Roberts, Nina S.; Hanula, Kristin L. 2015. Visitor diversity through the recreation manager lens: comparing Forest Service Regions 8 (U.S. South) and 5 (California).
• Himmelfarb, David; Schelhas, John; Hitchner, Sarah; Johnson Gaither, Cassandra; Dunbar, KathErine; Brosius, J. Peter. 2014. Perceptions of and Attitudes Toward Climate Change in the Southeastern United States.
• Johnson Gaither, Cassandra. 2014. Smokestacks, Parkland, and community composition: examining environmental burdens and benefits in Hall County, Georgia, USA.
• Johnson Gaither, Cassandra. 2014. Wilderness and the U.S.
• Gan, Jianbang; Jarrett, Adam; Johnson Gaither, Cassandra. 2014. Wildfire risk adaptation: propensity of forestland owners to purchase wildfire insurance in the southern United States.
• Gan, Jianbang; Jarrett, Adam; Johnson Gaither, Cassandra. 2013. Forest fuel reduction and biomass supply: perspectives from southern private landowners.
• Green, Gary T.; Bowker, J.M.; Wang, X.F.; Cordell, K.; Johnson, Cassandra Y. 2012. A National Study of Constraints to Participation in Outdoor Recreational Activities.
• Wear, David N.; Joyce, Linda A.; Butler, Bret; Johnson, Cassandra; Stewart, Susan; Nowak, David. 2012. Climate change, human communities, and forests in rural, urban, and wildland-urban interface environments.
• Poudyal, Neelam; Johnson Gaither, Cassandra; Goodrick, Scott; Bowker, J.M.; Gan, Jianbang. 2012. Locating spatial variation in the association between wildland fire risk and social vulnerability across six southern states.
• Jennings, Viniece; Johnson Gaither, Cassandra; Schulterbrandt Gragg, Richard. 2012. Promoting Environmental Justice Through Urban Green Space Access: A Synopsis.
• Wyman, Miriam; Malone, Sparkle; Stein, Taylor; Johnson, Cassandra. 2012. Race and wildfire risk perceptions among rural forestland owners in north-central Florida.
• Schelhas, John; Hitchner, Sarah; Johnson, Cassandra. 2012. Social vulnerability and environmental change along urban-rural interfaces.
• Johnson, Cassandra; Gan, Jianbang; Jarrett, Adam; Wyman, Miriam S.; Malone, Sparkle; Adams, Keenan J.; Bowker, J.M.; Stein, Taylor V. 2011. Black Belt landowners respond to State-sponsored wildland fire mitigation policies and programs.
• Johnson Gaither, Cassandra. 2011. Latino Park Access: Examining Environmental Equity in a “New Destination” County in the South.
• Johnson Gaither, Cassandra; Poudyal, N.C.; Goodrick, S.; Bowker, J.M.; Malone, Sparkle L.; Gan, J. 2011. Wildland fire risk and social vulnerability in the Southeastern United States: An exploratory spatial data analysis approach.
• Schelhas, J.; Samar, S.; Johnson, Cassandra; Asumadu, K.; Tease, F.; Stanturf, J.; Blay, D. 2010. Opportunities and capacity for community-based forest carbon sequestration and monitoring in Ghana.
• Green, G.T.; Bowker, J.M.; Wang, X.; Cordell, H.K.; Johnson, Cassandra Y. 2009. An Examination of Perceived Constraints to Outdoor Recreation.
• Lim, Siew Hoon; Bowker, J.M.; Johnson, Cassandra Y.; Cordell, H. Ken. 2009. Perspectives on prescribed fire in the south: does ethnicity matter?.
• Johnson, Cassandra Y.; Halfacre, A.C.; Hurley, P.T. 2009. Resistant place identities in rural Charleston County, South Carolina: Cultural, environmental, and racial politics in the Sewee to Santee Area.
• Bowker, J. Michael; Hoon Lim, Siew; Cordell, H. Ken; Green, Gary T.; Rideout-Hanzak, Sandra; Johnson, Cassandra Y. 2008. Wildland fire, risk, and recovery: results of a national survey with regional and racial perspectives.
• Johnson, Cassandra Y.; Bowker, J. Michael; Green, Gary; Cordell, H. Kenneth. 2007. "Provide it... but will they come?" a look at African American and Hispanic visits to Federal recreation areas.
• Harper, Richard A.; Johnson, Cassandra; Rauscher, H. Michael; Whitlock, Carol. 2007. A strategic plan for forest research and development in the south.
• Green, Gary T.; Bowker, J. Michael; Johnson, Cassandra Y.; Cordell, H. Ken; Wang, Xiongfei. 2007. An examination of constraints to wilderness visitation.
• Johnson, Cassandra Y.; Zipperer, Wayne C. 2007. Culture, place and urban growth in the U.S. South.
• Johnson, Cassandra; English, D.B.K. 2007. Visitor diversity on national forests-how should managers respond?.
• Johnson, Cassandra Y.; Floyd, Myron F. 2006. A tale of two towns: black and white municipalities respond to urban growth in the South Carolina lowcountry.
• Johnson, Cassandra Y.; Bowker, J. Michael; Cordell, H. Ken. 2005. Acculturation via nature-based outdoor recreation: a comparison of Mexican and Chinese ethnic groups in the United States.
• Johnson, Cassandra Y.; Bowker, J. Michael. 2004. African-American wildland memories.
• Johnson, Cassandra Y.; Bowker, J. Michael; Cordell, H. Ken. 2004. Ethnic variation in environmental belief and behavior: An examination of the new ecological paradigm in a social psychological context.
• Johnson, Cassandra Y.; Mcdaniel, Josh. 2004. Turpentine Negro.
• Johnson, Cassandra Y.; Bowker, J. Michael; Bergstrom, John C.; Cordell, H. Ken. 2004. Wilderness values in America: Does immigrant status or ethnicity matter?.
• Floyd, Myron F; Johnson, Cassandra Y. 2002. Coming to Terms with Environmental Justice in Outdoor Recreation: A Conceptual Discussion with Research Implications.
• Johnson, Cassandra Y.; Bowker, J. Michael; Cordell, H. Ken. 2001. Outdoor Recreation Constraints: An Examination of Race, Gender, and Rural Dwelling.
• Johnson, Cassandra Y.; Bowker, J. Michael. 1999. On-site wildland activity choices among African Americans and White Americans in the rural south: implications for management.
• Bowker, J. Michael; Cordell, H. Ken; Johnson, Cassandra Y. 1999. User fees for recreation services on public lands: a national assessment.
• Johnson, Cassandra Y. 1998. A consideration of collective memory in African American attachment to wildland recreation places.
• Cordell, H. Ken; Bliss, John C.; Johnson, Cassandra Y.; Fly, Mark. 1998. Voices from southern forests.
• Johnson, Cassandra Y.; Bowker, J. Michael; English, Donald B.K.; Worthen, Dreamal. 1998. Wildland recreation in the rural South: an examination of marginality and ethnicity theory.
• Johnson, Cassandra Y.; Horan, Patrick M.; Pepper, William. 1997. Race, Rural Residence, and Wildland Visitation: Examining the Influence of Sociocultural Meaning.
• Johnson, Cassandra Y.; Bowker, J. Michael; English, Donald B.K.; Worthen, Dreamal. 1997. Theoretical Perspectives of Ethnicity and Outdoor Recreation: A Review and Synthesis of African-American and European-American Participation.

Research Highlights

Forests Important in Mitigating Heat-related Mortality (2014)

This research seeks to understand the relationship between heat-related illness and forest type and composition. Forest Service scientists examined this association controlling for social vulnerabilities related to demographic and resource-based characteristics for all counties within the contiguous U.S. Heat-related mortality was modeled as a function of social vulnerability (i.e., age, urbanization, material disabilities), forest type, and forest density for all counties in the contiguous U.S.

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Latino Community Access to Urban Green Space (2012)

Addressing environmental justice in terms of access to urban green space for an immigrant community in Georgia

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Report Investigates Connection Between Urban Green Spaces and Environmental Justice (2012)

Ecosystem services from urban green spaces have numerous benefits for the landscape and public health

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Wildfire and Social Vulnerability (2010)

As part of a Joint Fire Science Project, SRS scientists examined the association between biophysical wildland fire risk and social vulnerability in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina-using data from the Southern Group of State Foresters' Southern Wildfire Risk Assessment and the U.S. Bureau of Census.

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