Social and Ecological Factors Influencing Attitudes Toward the Application of High-Intensity Prescribed Burns to Restore Fire Adapted Grassland Ecosystems

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Fire suppression in grassland systems that are adapted to episodic fire has contributed to the recruitment of woody species in grasslands worldwide. Even though the ecology of restoring these fire prone systems back to grassland states is becoming clearer, a major hurdle to the reintroduction of historic fires at a landscape scale is its social acceptability. Despite the growing body of literature on the social aspects of fire, an understanding of the human dimensions of applying high-intensity prescribed burns in grassland and savanna systems is lacking. We used structural equation modeling to examine how landowners' attitudes toward high-intensity prescribed burns are affected by previous experience with burning, perceptions of brush encroachment, land condition, proximity constraints, risk orientation, fire management knowledge and skill, access to fire management equipment, and subjective norms. Our results suggest that experience, risk taking orientation, and especially social norms, i.e., perceived support from others, when implementing prescribed burns play an important role in determining the attitudes of landowners toward the use of high-intensity prescribed burns. Concern over lack of skill, knowledge, and insufficient resources have a moderately negative effect on these attitudes. Our results highlight the importance of targeted engagement strategies to address risk perceptions, subjective norms, and landowner's concerns. With these concerns allayed, it is possible to increase the adoption of high-intensity prescribed burns that lead to landscape-scale grassland restoration and conservation.

A life course approach to understanding social drivers of rangeland conversion

“…Voluntary organizations can create a pool of labor from community members who seek mutual benefits from cooperation (Wagner et al 2007). For example, prescribed burn associations (PBAs) are cooperative groups that provide labor, equipment, and expertise that would be cost prohibitive for any single individual to supply (Toledo et al 2013(Toledo et al , 2014Twidwell et al 2013). Not only http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol22/iss1/art19/ could PBAs be further explored or expanded in the Southern Great Plains, other programs that provide similar opportunities for woody plant removal (e.g., mechanical) could be developed.…”

“…Previous research on rangeland conservation has focused on the microlevel factors that influence the individual decisions of landowners, including how land-ownership motivations influence willingness to participate in conservation practices , landowner attitudes and goals (Morton et al 2010), trust among members of cooperative land management groups (Toledo et al 2014), and perceptions of risk (Kreuter et al 2008, Toledo et al 2013, which have all been related to a landowner's willingness to engage in rangeland conservation practices. In addition, feelings of social responsibility and property rights orientations have been connected to landowner decision-making with regard to adopting conservation practices (Kreuter et al 2006).…”

Smokey comes of age: unmanned aerial systems for fire management

“…Insufficient equipment and limited personnel are two primary considerations consistently cited by prescribed burn managers as reasons for not conducting prescribed burns (Weir ; Toledo et al . ). Our UAS prototype is meant to provide a technological solution to these challenges and sets the stage for more advanced UAS with improved operational characteristics (eg greater flight range, payload size).…”

“…We suggest that UAS aerial ignition technology has the potential to decrease the risks and costs of helicopter-based aerial ignitions, thereby offering new groups, such as prescribed burners in the private sector, the opportunity to use a type of technology previously limited to agency professionals and wealthy landowners. Insufficient equipment and limited personnel are two primary considerations consistently cited by prescribed burn managers as reasons for not conducting prescribed burns (Weir 2009;Toledo et al 2013). Our UAS prototype is meant to provide a technological solution to these challenges and sets the stage for more advanced UAS with improved operational characteristics (eg greater flight range, payload size).…”

Adaptive Management of Rangeland Systems

“…Special legal exemptions have been granted to a small proportion of PBAs to provide flexibility to conduct fires during periods of government-mandated outdoor burning bans for restoration purposes (Twidwell et al 2013a). While this has allowed some associations to conduct prescribed fires in conditions capable of overcoming woody plant mortality objectives, members recognize that legislation can shift to their disadvantage (Toledo et al 2013). As a response, burn associations are moving beyond local affiliations of landowners and developing a formal hierarchical structure with existing alliances in the state (e.g., Prescribed Burn Alliance of Texas; http://pbatexas.org) and region (e.g., Alliance of Prescribed Burn Associations).…”