The Impact of Affective Heuristics in Decision-Making Regarding the Implementation of Prescribed Fire on Private Rangelands in the Southern Great Plains, USA

Abstract

Ecosystems around the world are experiencing unprecedented anthropogenic impacts, emphasizing the need for a nuanced understanding of how individual decision-making shapes social-ecological systems. In rangeland systems, prescribed fire can reduce woody plant encroachment, restore the resilience of native grasslands, and mitigate fuel load accumulation limiting catastrophic wildfires. Yet, many individuals decide against this land management practice. In order to better understand the cognitive decision-making processes that shape the use of prescribed fire in rangeland ecosystems, we conducted 66 semi-structured interviews with key informants in the Texas and Oklahoma portions of the Southern Great Plains. Results indicate that heuristic processes were frequently used when considering the use of prescribed fire, but that analytical processes were more likely to lead to prescribed fire implementation. These findings suggest the need to reframe prescribed fire communications to the public, rethink prescribed fire regulations, and reshape liability insurance for fire practitioners.