Prescribed fire is an essential tool; expanding its use requires addressing the challenge from multiple and often interconnected angles. This panel will discuss strategies for engaging new practitioners, including students and private landowners (who own just over 70% of longleaf forests), through targeted outreach and training initiatives such as student fire crews, workshops, Learn & Burns, and Prescribed Burn Associations (PBAs). Once interest is sparked, providing individuals with the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience is critical. Innovative resources like the Prescribed Burn Planner and the Tall Timbers Prescribed Fire Academy help practitioners utilize fire more effectively, while hands-on "grassroots" opportunities elevate their learning to the next level.
