Perceptions of NRCS Assistance with Prescribed Fires on U.S. Private Lands: A Regionally Stratified Case Study

Ryan Wilbur,Charles Stanley,John Derek Scasta,Kristie A Maczko

doi:10.3390/fire4030047

Abstract

The benefits of prescribed fires are recognized throughout the United States, but the ability to assist with prescribed fire application on private land by government agencies has many possible constraints and challenges. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), a federal agency, is mandated to assist private landowners with meeting land management objectives, but the ability of employees to utilize prescribed fire as a management tool is complex. We conducted a regionally stratified online survey of NRCS employees across the United States to determine the barriers inhibiting their ability to assist private landowners with prescribed fire application. In January of 2020, we recruited 101 NRCS rangeland and grazing land specialists to participate in the survey with 50 completing the survey (regional sample size: Central n = 14, Northeast n = 5, Southeast n = 12, West n = 19). A majority (82%) of respondents thought prescribed fires were staying the same or increasing in number. Regional differences in assistance types were significant for conducting burns and providing technical education, but not for other assistance types. Regional differences for perceived constraints were also significant for how the public understands the risks of prescribed fire and the ecological constraints but not for state policy, federal policy, liability, or public understanding of prescribed fire benefits. Overall and across regions, the NRCS survey participants perceived federal policies, liability, and private landowners’ lack knowledge of prescribed fire limits their ability to assist in the utilization of prescribed fire. Creating a national policy that allows a streamlined process for NRCS employees to assist with prescribed fire implementation and collaborative initiatives to improve private landowner knowledge gaps has the potential to improve prescribed fire application across the United States.

Highlights

Wildfire frequency and intensity due to changes in climatic conditions and historic fire suppression policies have led to elevated concerns about hazardous fuels in an era of catastrophic wildfires [1,2,3]
Of the 101 survey questionnaires sent to Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) employees, we received 50 valid responses for a response rate of 50%, which has been suggested to be adequate for surveys to avoid biased results [29]
Responses varied across the United States, with 14 (28%) from NRCS’s Central region, 5 (10%) from NRCS’s northeast region, 12 (24%) from NRCS’s southeast region, and 19 (38%) from NRCS’s west region (Figure 1)

Summary

Introduction

Wildfire frequency and intensity due to changes in climatic conditions and historic fire suppression policies have led to elevated concerns about hazardous fuels in an era of catastrophic wildfires [1,2,3]. Land management agencies have made efforts to reduce hazardous fuels through multiple methods but are not reducing them fast enough or in needed areas to avoid wildfire disasters [4]. A collaborative approach between private landowners and land managers focused on fuel reduction and mitigation can help meet these objectives [10]. Adjusting internal and national policies and training could allow for federal agencies to work more closely with private landowners in conducting prescribed fires [11]. As a result, these efforts would bolster a nationwide initiative to increase prescribed fire utilization to meet hazardous fuels reduction program goals [4]. What is your highest level of education? (Please check one.)

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion