Firescapes

Firescapes in the mid-Atlantic: mismatches between social perceptions and prescribed fire use
    • JFSP PROJECT ID: 16-1-02-5

Firescapes in the mid-Atlantic: Mismatches between social perceptions and prescribed fire use (images))The social barriers and opportunities of prescribed fire management practices in the mid-Atlantic region are unknown. We hypothesized that there are mismatches between community perceptions of prescribed fire operations in the mid-Atlantic U.S. and the realities of its current and potential use in landscape management, but that these mismatches varied across the region between places with recent (Pennsylvania (PA)) and long-term (New Jersey (NJ)) active management programs. We used interdisciplinary, mixed-method approaches including trailhead surveys, focus groups, field measurements, simulation modeling, and environmental cost-benefit analysis. The goal was to triangulate the interactions among fire effects on ecosystems, community perceptions of benefits and concerns about prescribed fire, and manager perceptions of barriers and opportunities for putting managed fire safely back on the landscape.

WPSU Outreach and teaching videos; provided to managers and distributed on North Atlantic Fire Science Exchange Learning Network twitter feed.

Articles
    • Dems CL, Taylor AH, Smithwick EAH, Krey JK, Kaye Mw. 2021. Prescribed fire alters structure and composition of a mid-Atlantic oak forest up to eight years after burning. fire ecol 17(10). doi: 10.1186/s42408-021-00093-5
    • Miller ZD, Wu H, Zipp K, Dems CL, Smithwick EAH, Kaye M, Newman P, Zhao A, Taylor A. 2020. Hunter and non-hunter perceptions of costs, benefits and likelihood of outcomes of prescribed fire in the mid-Atlantic region. Society & Natural Resources 33 (10): 1321-1327. doi: 10.1080/08941920.2020.1780359
    • Dems, C.L., Taylor AH, Smithwick EAH, Kreye J, Kaye MW. 2021. Altering forest structure and composition using prescribed fire: A case study in central Pennsylvania, USA, in press.
    • Zhao, A, Taylor AH, Smithwick EAH, Kaye M, Harris L. The effects of simulated fire regimes on oak forest development and carbon stocks and emissions in Pennsylvania, U.S.A., submitted.
    • Zipp K, Shr Y-H, Smithwick EAH, Zhao A, Taylor AH, Kaye MW, Miller Z, Wu H, Newman P. Feeling the burn: the optimal timing of prescribed fires for recreational benefits, in prep.
    • Smithwick EAH, Taylor AH, Kaye MW, Zipp K, Wu H, Miller ZD, Shr Y-H, Zhao A, Dems C, Newman P. Manager perspectives: barriers and opportunities of prescribed fire in the mid-Atlantic, in prep.
    • Hong, W., Miller ZD, Zipp K, Shr Yau-Huo, Dems CL, Zhao A, Taylor A, Kaye M, Wang R, Newman P, Smithwick EAH. Support by forest recreational users for prescribed fire exceeds manager expectations, in prep.
Conference of symposium abstracts
    • 2020 Smithwick EAH, Zipp K, Wu H, Kaye M, Taylor A, Miller Z, Dems C, Zhao A, Shr Y-H, Newman P. Firescapes of the mid-Atlantic. Center for Private Forests Webinar, February 11, 2020. [Invited]
    • 2020 Smithwick EAH, Taylor A, Kreye J, Zipp K, Wu H, Newman P, Webber J, Battersby J, Bearer S. Barriers and opportunities for science-policy coordination in mid-Atlantic firescapes. North America Chapter of the International Association of Landscape Ecology Annual Meeting [Virtual], May 2020.
    • 2019 Smithwick EAH, Zipp K, Wu H, Kaye M, Taylor A, Miller Z, Shr, Y-H, Zhao, A, Dems C, Newman P. Burning mismatches in firescapes of the mid-Atlantic. Annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, California, (December 11, 2019), Accepted, National.
    • 2019 Smithwick EAH, Zipp K, Wu H, Kaye M, Taylor A, Miller Z, Shr, Y-H, Zhao, A, Dems C, Newman P. Firescapes in the mid-Atlantic: mismatches between social perceptions and prescribed fire use. Pennsylvania Prescribed Fire Council, Gettysburg PA, February 6. [Invited Plenary]
    • 2019 Smithwick, E. A. H., Zipp, K. Y., Wu, H., Kaye, M. W., Taylor, A. H., Miller, Z., Shr, Y.-H. (Iowa State University), Zhao, A., & Dems, C. New Jersey Forest Fire Service – All Staff Meeting, Island Beach State Park, New Jersey, September 12, 2019, Invited. Regional.
    • 2019 Smithwick, E. A. H., Zipp, K. Y., Wu, H., Kaye, M. W., Taylor, A. H., Miller, Z., Shr, Y.-H. (Iowa State University), Zhao, A., & Dems, C. (September 11, 2019). “Firescapes in the mid-Atlantic: mismatches between social perceptions and managed fire use,” Central Appalachians Fire Learning Network Workshop, Central Appalachians Fire Learning Network, McHenry, Maryland, 100 in attendance, Invited. Regional.
    • 2019 Smithwick, E. A. H., Zipp, K. Y., Wu, H., Kaye, M. W., Taylor, A. H., Miller, Z., Shr, Y.-H. (Iowa State University), Zhao, A., & Dems, C. (July 23, 2019). “Burning misMatches in Firescapes of the mid-Atlantic,” The sixth Fire in Eastern Oak Forests Conference, Oak Woodlands & Forests Fire Consortium; Consortium of Appalachian Fire Managers and Scientists, State College, PA, 100 in attendance, peer-reviewed/refereed. Regional. [Invited Plenary]
    • 2019 Dems, C., Kaye, M., Taylor, A., Smithwick, E.A.H, Lupo, P., & Maynard, E. (2019, March). Prescribed fire in Pennsylvania forests. Presented at the Pennsylvania Private Landowners Conference. State College, PA
    • 2019 Dems, C., Kaye, M., Taylor, A., Smithwick, E.A.H, Lupo, P., & Maynard, E. (2019, February). Measuring eight years of forest response to prescribed fire in central Pennsylvania. Presented at the Pennsylvania Prescribed Fire Council Annual Meeting. Gettysburg, PA.
    • 2019 Zhao, A., Taylor, A.H. Modeling Prescribed Fire Effects on Vegetation Dynamics in Pitch Pine and Mixed-Oak Forests Association of American Geographers, Washington D.C.
    • 2019 Zhao, A. Modeling prescribed fire effects on vegetation dynamics in Pennsylvania mixed-oak forests. Pennsylvania Prescribed Fire Council Annual Meeting. Gettysburg, PA.
    • 2018 Smithwick EAH, Zipp K, Wu H, Kate M, Taylor A, Newman P, Shr Y-H, Zhao A, Dems C, Miller, Z. Firescapes in the mid-Atlantic: Mismatches between social perceptions and prescribed fire use. The Nature Conservancy, MD Chapter, September 11, 2018. [Invited]
    • 2018 Smithwick EAH, Zipp K, Wu H, Kate M, Taylor A, Newman P, Shr Y-H, Zhao A, Dems C, Thurston E. Firescapes in the mid-Atlantic: Mismatches between social perceptions and prescribed fire use. Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 11, 2018
    • 2018 Smithwick EAH, Zipp K, Wu H, Kate M, Taylor A, Newman P, Shr Y-H, Zhao A, Dems C, Miller, Z. Firescapes in the mid-Atlantic: Mismatches between social perceptions and prescribed fire use. Eastern States Section of the Combustion Institute annual meeting, The Pennsylvania State University, March 4-7, 2018 [Invited Plenary]
    • 2018 Smithwick EAH, Zipp K, Wu H, Kate M, Taylor A, Newman P, Shr Y-H, Zhao A, Dems C, Miller, Z. Firescapes in the mid-Atlantic: Mismatches between social perceptions and prescribed fire use. Pennsylvania Prescribed Fire Council annual meeting, Williamsport, PA, February 2018 [Invited/Cancelled due to weather]
    • 2018 Zipp K and Shr Y-H. Feeling the burn: the optimal timing of prescribed fires for recreational benefits. EEEP seminar, October 24, 2018, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.
Presentations/webinars/other outreach/science delivery materials
    • Schlow Library Research Unplugged Speaker Series, Oct 3, 2019. “Firescapes of the mid-Atlantic: A Promethean Promise.” Penn State Office of Government and Community Relations and Schlow Library, State College, PA, 100 in attendance, Invited. Local.
Graduate Theses
    • Dems, C. 2019. Igniting Change: Measuring Prescribed Fire Effects in a Central Pennsylvania Hardwood Forest. M.S. The Pennsylvania State University.
    • Zhao, A. 2019. Modeling Prescribed Fire Effects on Vegetation Dynamics in Mid-Atlantic Oak and Pitch Pine Forests. M.S. The Pennsylvania State University.