Prescribed Fire Perspectives of African American Landowners in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia

African American landownership is decreasing in the southeastern United States. At the same time, prescribed fire use, research, and outreach are increasing. This disparity between changing landowner demographics and a renewed interest in a historically prevalent land management tool has prompted a broader conversation about diversity and inclusion in outreach programs and land management preferences. Therefore, an exploratory qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with African American non-industrial private landowners (NIPLs) in southern Alabama, northern Florida, and southwestern Georgia. The objectives of this study were to address the following questions: 1) Do African American NIPLs use prescribed fire?; 2) Why do they choose or refuse to use prescribed fire?; 3) What potential constraints discourage African American NIPLs from using prescribed fire? Twenty-one African American landowners within these states were interviewed from May through August 2019. Analysis of these interviews was completed using rapid rural appraisal, a method used to quickly gather data from individuals in rural settings. The results suggested that 81% of the African American NIPLs interviewed used prescribed fire to accomplish specific land management objectives, such as hazardous fuel reduction, undesired vegetation control, timber stand improvement, pest and disease reduction, and aesthetics. These individuals faced unique potential limitations including a lack of relevant information regarding prescribed fire permits, smoke management, safety, and burning smaller parcels. These individuals also desired opportunities to retain land within their own families and also felt they were underrepresented within land management organizations and extension programs. In the future, policymakers' efforts may benefit from an intentional focus on building relationships with individual landowners, enhancing educational programming and access for landowners maintaining small and large parcels, and striving for diverse and inclusive representation within land management organizations.