Abstract
The actions or inactions of land management can have far-reaching consequences. Land that is not maintained is at risk of spreading wildfire to adjoining properties, and smoke that is emitted from one area will spread to another. Despite growing recognition that prescribed fire is a critical tool for land management, there is limited research on the training and communication needs of those responsible for implementing it. This three-manuscript dissertation advances the safe and effective use of prescribed fire by examining professional training through a review of the literature on training transfer (Manuscript 1) and exploring the experiences and needs of family forest owners and forest contractors with qualitative interviews and thematic analysis (Manuscripts 2 and 3). This research demonstrates that promoting prescribed fire use is not just a matter of disseminating information. It requires aligning messages with the audience’s desires, while increasing the benefits and reducing barriers to implementation. Future studies should explore and measure the effectiveness of communication strategies across diverse land ownerships, including different geographic areas and various vegetation and land use types.