Prescribed Burning Perceptions Among Private Landowners: An Annotated Bibliography of Relevant Literature

Introduction Approximately 87% of the southern forests within the United States are owned by private companies (27%) and non‐industrial private forest owners (60%) (Hanson, et al., 2010). Within these southern forests, more than 61% of longleaf pine, a fire‐dependent species, is privately owned (America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative, 2014). With such a large holding, land management decisions made by the individuals who own these lands can significantly impact both the economic and environmental value of these lands. Since many of these forests provide ecosystem services that depend on frequent fire, building a positive network for private landowners that supports prescribed burning efforts is essential. An increase in prescribed burning on privately owned lands will achieve numerous desired land management goals, including restoration of longleaf pine ecosystems, reduction of wildfire risk, and the protection of natural, human, and economic resources (Burke, Steelman, & Gharis, 2012). To ensure that landowner perceptions support these objectives, significant efforts must be made to communicate the importance of and need for prescribed fire, while mitigating the negative perceptions of its use.