Data - Prescribed fire in longleaf pine ecosystems: fire managers' perspectives on priorities, constraints, and future prospects

The following information describes the data coded in the corresponding database as it relates to survey question responses. This dataset includes all data used to produce graphs in:

Kupfer, J.A., Lackstrom, K., Grego, J.M., Dow, K., Terando, A.J., and Hiers, J.K. 2022. Perspectives on prescribed fire management in longleaf pine ecosystems: Current constraints and future prospects. Fire Ecology 18, 27. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42408-022-00151-6..

Part I: Criteria for Prioritizing Burn Sites (Columns A-S)

Question #1: "For the characteristics listed below, please rank your top 3 criteria for determining whether a site has a high priority for burning." Scale: 1 = highest, 2 = next; 3 = next; NULL = not in top 3. Columns K-S indicate simply whether a criterion was chosen (1) or not (0), regardless of rank.

A. Participant ID

B. TimeSinceBurnRk = Time since the last fire 

C. FuelReductionRk = Burn to reduce fuels

D. EcoHealthRk = Burn to improve ecosystem health

E. TimberRk = Improving timber

F. FirebreaksRk = Presence of firebreaks

G. TandERk = Burn to assist T&E species

H. WUIrk = Proximity to Wildland Urban Interface

I. ExoticInvasiveRk = Prioritizing due exotics / invasives

J. OtherCritRk = Other criteria not included above

K. TimeSinceBurn = Time since the last fire (1 = cited in any order; NULL = not in top 3)

L. FuelReduction = Burn to reduce fuels (same ranking as previous)

M. EcoHealth = Burn to improve ecosystem health (same ranking as previous)

N. Timber = Improving timber (same ranking as previous)

O. Firebreaks = Presence of firebreaks (same ranking as previous)

P. TandE = Burn to assist T&E species (same ranking as previous)

Q. WUI = Proximity to Wildland Urban Interface (same ranking as previous)

R. ExoticInvasive = Prioritizing due exotics / invasives (same ranking as previous)

S. OtherCrit = Other criteria not included above (same ranking as previous)

Part II: Longleaf Pine Burning Frequency (T-U)

Question #3: "Recommendations for the frequency of prescribed burns depend on the local conditions, including: 1) the diversity of sites with longleaf ecosystems, 2) variation in the suite of understory species that define the habitat, and 3) the 'historic' fire return interval. How often, on average, should longleaf pine stands in your unit(s) be burned?

T. RecentBurnFreq:  1 = < every 2 yrs, 2 = every 2-4 yrs, 3 = every 4-5 yrs, 4 = > every 5 yrs 

Question #4. In practice, how often, on average, have longleaf pine units in your area been burned over the past 10 years?

U. CompBurnFreq:  -1 = less frequently than previous answer; 0 = as frequently as previous answer; 1 = more frequently than previous answer (the response was compared to that from Question 3 and scored comparatively).

Part III: Current legal, institutional, and managerial constraints (V-AB)

Question #6. In this section we would appreciate your help in better understanding how specific factors constrain or limit your ability to conduct prescribed burns. Do the following factors pose constraints to prescribed burning at your units? Scale: 1 = not a constraint; 2 = sometimes a constraint; 3 = commonly a constraint; -9999 = Not applicable. (note: #NULL! = no response)

V. ConstrPublic: Burning constrained by public concerns 

W. ConstrWUI: Burning constrained by nearby development 

X. ConstrRisk: Burning constrained by concerns about liability, career, etc.

Y. ConstrPartners: Burning constrained by partnerships and agreements

Z. ConstrIncent: Limited incentives or organizational pushback

AA. ConstrLegal: Legal constraints (e.g. NEPA, etc.)

AB. ConstrOther: Other constraints

Part IV: Environmental and resource constraints (AC-AJ)

Question 7: Please indicate how often these factors constrain prescribed burning in your management unit during the longleaf pine dormant season and growing season. Scale: 1 = not a constraint; 2 = sometimes a constraint; 3 = commonly a constraint; -9999 = Not applicable. (note: #NULL! = no response)

AC. ConstrDormWx: Inappropriate weather conditions during dormant season

AD. ConstrDormFuel: Concerns about fuel loads during dormant season

AE. ConstrDormAQ: Air quality / smoke management issues during dormant season

AF. ConstrDormRes: Shortage of resources (personnel, money, equip) during dormant season

AG. ConstrGrowWx: Inappropriate weather conditions during growing season

AH. ConstrGrowFuel: Concerns about fuel loads during growing season

AI. ConstrGrowAQ: Air quality / smoke management issues during growing season

AJ. ConstrGrowRes: Shortage of resources (personnel, money, equip) during growing season

Part V: Seasonal Weather Constraints (AK-BD)

Question 8: For weather conditions during the dormant season and growing season, please check the boxes for all factors which are common constraints on prescribed burning. (scale: 1 = factor selected, #NULL! = factor not selected).

AK. ConstrHiTDorm: High temperature is a common constraint during the dormant season

AL. ConstrHiTGrow: High temperature is a common constraint during the growing season

AM. ConstrLowTDorm: Low temperature is a common constraint during the dormant season

AN. ConstrLowTGrow: Low temperature is a common constraint during the growing season

AO. ConstrHiRHDorm: High relative humidity is a common constraint during the dormant season

AP. ConstrHiRHGrow: High relative humidity is a common constraint during the growing season

AQ. ConstrLowRHDorm: Low relative humidity is a common constraint during the dormant season

AR. ConstrLowRHGrow: Low relative humidity is a common constraint during the growing season

AS. ConstrHiWindDorm: High winds are a common constraint during the dormant season

AT. ConstrHiWindGrow: High winds are a common constraint during the growing season

AU. ConstrLowWindDorm: Low winds are a common constraint during the dormant season

AV. ConstrLowWindGrow: Low winds are a common constraint during the growing season

AW. ConstrDaysRainDorm: # of days since last rain is a common constraint during the dormant season

AX. ConstrDaysRainGrow: # of days since last rain is a common constraint during the growing season

AY. ConstrDroughtDorm: Drought conditions are a common constraint during the dormant season

AZ. ConstrDroughtGrow: Drought conditions are a common constraint during the growing season

BA. ConstrAtmoDispDorm: Low atmospheric dispersion is a common constraint during the dormant season

BB. ConstrAtmoDispGrow: Low atmospheric dispersion is a common constraint during the growing season

BC. ConstrTransWindDorm: Adequate transport winds are a common constraint during the dormant season

BD. ConstrTransWindGrow: Adequate transport winds are a common constraint during the growing season

Part VI: Expectations for future changes in burning constraints due to climate change and urban growth (BE-BW)

Question 9: To what extent do you think climate change currently affects your management decisions? 

BE. CurrClimChange. Scale: 0 = not at all; 1 = a little; 2 = moderately; 4 = a great deal; -9999 = don't know. #NULL! = no response.

Question 10: To what extent do you think urban growth currently affects your management decisions? 

BF. CurrUrbanGrowth: Scale: 0 = not at all; 1 = a little; 2 = moderately; 4 = a great deal; -9999 = don't know. #NULL! = no response.

Question 12: To what extent do you think future climate change (e.g., increasing temperature, more intense rainstorms, and/or extreme weather events) will affect your prescribed burning decisions? . Scale for all variables: 0 = not at all; 1 = a little; 2 = moderately; 3 =a great deal; -9999 = don't know. #NULL! = no response.

BG. ClimChangeShort: Effects over the next 5-10 years

BH. ClimChangeMed: Effects over the next 10-30 years

BI. ClimChangeLong: Effects over the next 30-50 years

Question 13: To what extent do you think future urbanization patterns (e.g., changes in the wildland urban interface, loss of habitat to restore longleaf pine ecosystems) will affect your prescribed burning decisions? Scale for all variables: 0 = not at all; 1 = a little; 2 = moderately; 3 =a great deal; -9999 = don't know. #NULL! = no response.

BJ. UrbChangeShort: Effects over the next 5-10 years

BK. UrbChangeMed: Effects over the next 10-30 years

BL. UrbChangeLong: Effects over the next 30-50 years

Question 15: Thirty years from now, which of these constraints do you think will be the most significant constraints to your use of prescribed burning? Please select up to 5 constraints. Scale: 1 = selected; #NULL! = selected

BM.  FutConstrWx: Inappropriate weather conditions (1 = cited in any order; NULL = not in top 5)

BN.  FutConstrFuel: High fuel loads (same scale as previous)

BO.  FutConstrAQ: Air quality issues, including smoke management (same scale as previous)

BP  FutConstrRes: Shortage of resources (personnel, money, equipment) (same scale as previous)

BQ.   FutConstrPublic: Avoiding public objections or concerns over burning (same scale as previous)

BR.   FutConstrWUI:  Residential or other development in or near burn areas (same scale as previous)

BS.  FutConstrRisk: Risk aversion (liability, career, political repurcussions) (same scale as previous)

BT.  FutConstrAgree:  Challenges posed by agreement and partnerships (same scale as previous)

BU   FutConstrIncent:  Limited incentives, institutional history (same scale as previous)

BV.   FutConstrLegal: Legal constraints (same scale as previous)

BW.  FutConstrOther: Other constraints

Part VII: Responder Demographics (BX)

Respondent provided state and management unit information. Scale 1 = yes; 0 = no.