Table 1 Criteria used to prioritize longleaf pine sites or stands for prescribed burning. Abbreviations in parentheses are used for corresponding variables in this paper. Survey participants were asked to select their top three priorities from the specific criteria listed here

Overall ecosystem health of the site (EcoHealth)

Stand-specific conditions and fire histories affect the viability and frequency of burning as a management tool (Costanza and Moody 2011; Kirkman and Mitchell 2006; Varner et al. 2005).

Presence of undesired exotic or invasive plants (ExoticInvasive)

Managing and eradicating non-native and invasive plant species threats is a key component of ecosystem and site restoration (ALRI 2009; Wear and Greis 2013).

Presence of firebreaks or well-established fire lines (Firebreaks)

The presence of adequate firebreaks precludes the need for additional investment (Costanza and Moody 2011; Waldrop and Goodrick 2012).

Need for fuel reduction to reduce fire risk (FuelReduction)

Prescribed burns can eliminate accumulations of fuel, thereby reducing the risk and severity of wildfire (Wear and Greis 2013; Waldrop and Goodrick 2012; Kobziar et al. 2015; Shrestha et al. 2021).

Presence of threatened or endangered species (e.g., red-cockaded woodpeckers) (TandE)

Burn objectives are tied to the recovery and protection of species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker and gopher tortoise (Hunter and Rostal 2021; Van Lear et al. 2005; Weiss et al. 2019).

Whether a site is managed for timber (Timber)

Management objectives, strategies, and tools intended for timber production may differ from those associated with conservation (Mitchell et al. 2006; Susaeta and Gong 2019).

Length of time since the last burn (TimeSinceBurn)

Frequent fire is critical for maintaining longleaf ecosystem health and restoring previously fire-suppressed areas (Brockway et al. 2005; Oswalt et al. 2012).

Distance to developed or residential land (the wildland-urban interface) (WUI)

Proximity to populated areas can increase risks associated with wildfire occurrence and severity and make prescribed burning more challenging due to public health and safety issues (Wear and Greis 2013; Costanza et al. 2015; Wade and Mobley 2007).

Other, please specify (OtherCrit)

Additional (often site-specific) criteria used when making burn-related decisions.