Proceedings BRAND CREATION for a PRESCRIBED FIRE CULTURE UTILIZING KEY SOCIAL MEDIA PARAMETERS
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Proceedings BRAND CREATION FOR A PRESCRIBED FIRE CULTURE – UTILIZING KEY SOCIAL MEDIA PARAMETERS. Lars Coleman*1, J. Kelly Hoffman1, Thomas McDaniel1, R. Patrick Bixler2, Urs P. Kreuter1, Morgan Russell3; 1Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 2University of Texas, Austin, TX, 3Texas A&M Agrilife Extension, San Angelo, TX ABSTRACT There is much information about the safe application and ecological benefits of prescribed fire as a rangeland management tool. Accordingly, many federal and state agencies, private entities, and landowner representative associations promote the use of prescribed fire and provide information, training and/or equipment to enhance its safe use. However, there is still widespread public resistance to the broad scale use of this management tool. Social media provide a valuable outlet for positive information about prescribed fire to a broader audience. However, social media are underutilized to bridge the gap between current decision makers and potential prescribed fire users. Given the rising age demographic of farmers and ranchers across the rangeland of the USA, a new generation of decision makers on these lands is inevitable. The shift to a younger demographic will result in greater use by land managers of social media sites. Building a foundation for information sharing for this group is critical for three reasons. First, there is a need to ensure greater access to information by a newer generation. Second, effective mentorship requires information utilization across multiple media platforms as a supplement to in person discussions. Third, information needs to be shared further through easier means. Interviews were conducted for landowner representative associations and government agency employees about their opinions of prescribed fire and the use of information about this tool. While increasing interest in disseminating more information about prescribed fire to potential users was identified, there is concern that such information is not being targeted effectively. Information about social media approaches to sharing information about prescribed fire will be presented. MANAGING SPECIES AT RISK - POLICIES AND TOOLS. Peg L. Strankman*; Barbwire Consulting, Airdrie, AB ABSTRACT Abstract: The Managing Species at Risk - Policies and Tools workshop was sponsored by Environment and Climate Change Canada to discuss current knowledge and management of species at risk (SAR) on the Canadian Prairies. The workshop focused on two broad areas. One addressed the opportunities in developing sustainable approaches to managing species at risk (SAR) and their needs. This included presentations on the use of tools such as modifying range health assessments, developing beneficial management practices and taking an ecosystem/multi-species approach. The use of citizen science was also explored. The second area focused on the use of policies to lower the risk for ranchers protecting SAR habitat through conservation/management agreements, incentives such as payment for ecological services and providing additional management information through existing agricultural programs such as the provincial environmental farm plans (EFP). The following is a summary of themes found in the presentations and discussions following the workshop. This presentation will elaborate on the project approaches and themes. Primary themes One size does not fit all. Respect the individuality of each agricultural operation. Take a multiple species approach. Getting more information into hands of producers is a good thing Make the programs voluntary Management changes are sometimes minimal cost Economic viability of the operation must be considered. Consistent long-term funding is necessary to make the programs operational Strong participation from agricultural organizations is important The first seven presentations featured projects currently underway under the Species at Risk Partnerships on Agricultural Lands (SARPAL) fund of Environment and Climate Change Canada. The SARPAL initiative is intended to promote voluntary (i.e. non-regulatory) protection of individuals, residences, and/or critical habitat located on commercial agricultural lands, through a partnership approach. CHILDREN OF EJIDATARIOS WILLINGNESS TO ESTABLISH HOME GARDENS FOR SOCIAL-ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT IN SONORA, MEXICO. Martha H. Martin Rivera*1, Maribel Montoya-Juarez1, Fernando A. Ibarra-Flores1, Salomon Moreno Medina1, George A. Rasmussen2; 1University of Sonora, Santa Ana, Mexico, 2Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX ABSTRACT Home garden is crucial for urban survival of many people in northwestern Mexico. Attributes include bringing family members together; production of fresh food, and the potential to meet economic, social, ecological sustainability and spaces for cultural, gender and social stability. The study was conducted at the preliminary school Vicente Guerrero at Ejido Santa Martha aiming to monitor producers’ young sons’ perception about the implementation of home gardens as means of food production, to promote family unity and as economic input. Surveys were randomly applied to thirty-eight 9 to 11 years old children of ejidatarios (shareholder on common land) during the summer of 2016. Results show that 95% of the children agree to participate in the establishment of home gardens in their school or house. Sixty five percent of surveyors said that during free time they help in home duties. Why to plant vegetables and fruits, 44% said for more plants for eating, 28% to spend less money buying vegetables and fruits. All them agree in having their own home garden and at least 78% of them were willing to spend 2-3 hours a week along with their family taking care of plants. Surveyors agree (65%) to have a necessity of having 20-100 pesos a week for fun. Sixty percent of the students say that they spend free time watching Tv, playing with an electrical devise such computer, tablet or phone. What they like to buy with the money earned in the home gardens: 60% answer that any small farm animal such as chickens, rabbits, ducks and geese; 40% answered that they were willing buying some school supplies such backpacks, notebooks and pencils as well as clothes, shoes and toys. We conclude that home gardens may play an important role in increasing their income, promoting family integration and future economic improvement. A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF US RANGELAND SOCIAL SCIENCE . Jasmine E. Bruno*1, Elena Dosamantes1, Maria Fernandez-Gimenez1, Kevin Jablonski1, Hailey Wilmer2; 1Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 2USDA-Northern Plains Climate Hub, Fort Collins, CO ABSTRACT Rangeland science aims to create knowledge to sustain rangeland social-ecological systems over the long term. Range science has made substantial progress on understanding ecological dynamics of rangeland systems and the management practices that sustain them, and these findings have been systematically reviewed and synthesized in various venues. The social factors (e.g. demographics, social norms and networks, institutions, culture, economic incentives) that determine whether sustainable management is implemented have received less attention in the US, and existing research on rancher behavior has not been systematically reviewed and synthesized. We present preliminary findings of a review of US rangeland social science related to rancher decision making. Our overarching goal is to clarify what we know about rancher decision-making and to highlight key evidence gaps and research needs. Key questions guiding our review include: What methods have been used to examine rancher decision-making, and where have they been applied? How have social differences such as race, ethnicity, gender, and class been addressed in the rangeland decision-making literature? What practices/interventions/predictors and outcome/response variables have been considered? What has been the impact of practices/interventions/predictors on various outcomes, and across what timescale? Is there evidence that past rangeland social science has been applied to the design of subsequent education, outreach, policy development or program implementation? PARTNERS ARE THE KEY TO SUCCESS ON PUBLIC LANDS. Laura K. Snell1, Jenny Jayo*2, Jaycee Decker2; 1University of California, Alturas, CA, 2United States Forest Service, Alturas, CA ABSTRACT Modoc County California lies in the northeast corner of the California bordering Oregon and Nevada. Public land encompasses nearly 70% of the county and 61% of the county is managed by the United States Forest Service as the Modoc National Forest. The Modoc National Forest is a diverse forest with timber, recreation, grazing, obsidian mining, wildlife, and wild horses. Management and restoration of these large expanses of federal land impacts all the residents of Modoc County and has created a unique relationship between the Modoc National Forest and local stakeholder groups. We will share several success stories where diverse groups have worked together on the Modoc National Forest to manage the landscape for multi-use and developed strong networks for success. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNIQUES FOR SUSTAINABILITY WHEN MANAGING AND RESTORING DEGRADED RANGELANDS . Tlektes Yespolov1, Marat Beksultanov2, Stefan Strohmeier3, Mira Haddad3, Mark A. Weltz*4, Sayjro K. Nouwakpo5, Kenneth Spaeth6, Ian Burns7, Jason Nesbit4; 1Kazakh National Agrarian University, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 2AgriTech Hub Kazakhstan, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 3International Center for Agriculture Research in