Experts weigh in to support strategic planning for prescribed fire in a Southern forest landscape
Prescribed fire is a principal tool in the southeastern US for reducing wildfire risks while improving ecological conditions. However, prioritizing different landscapes for prescribed fire when resources are limited can be challenging, and often relies on local expert knowledge. Researchers used a series of workshops with engaged Forest Service fire management experts to understand where prescribed fire can best advance shared objectives in the Ocala National Forest and surrounding lands in Florida.
Planning for ecosystem management in a collaborative context such as Shared Stewardship involves prioritizing management actions to meet goals that are shared among stakeholders. Flexible decision support is needed to help identify opportunities that can advance multiple objectives, accounting for stakeholder preferences, necessary tradeoffs, and changing landscape conditions. With these needs in mind, an ongoing effort by Forest Service and Duke University scientists examines prescribed fire in the Ocala National Forest and surrounding landscapes in Florida. The effort includes a series of expert elicitation workshops to evaluate opportunities for prescribed fire to advance two important goals: improving ecological conditions and reducing risks associated with wildfire. The workshops have brought together National Forest staff at Regional, State, and Forest levels to integrate expert knowledge with the analysis of spatial data about forest conditions, fire hazards, and vulnerable resources such as species at risk. Resulting models will provide information to help advance objectives through prescribed fire, given different preferences and necessary tradeoffs among goals. Products delivered to Regional and local partners will provide flexibility for prescribed fire planning and decision-making in an uncertain future.
