WILDFIRES CURRENTLY BURN 3 TO 10 MILLION ACRES ANNUALLY IN THE U.S. ACCUMULATION OF FUELS SUCH AS DRIED GRASSES, PINE NEEDLES, AND SHRUBS PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN INCREASING THE INTENSITY AND SIZE OF WILDFIRES IN THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S. MANAGEMENT EFFORTS, SUCH AS PRESCRIBED FIRES AND THINNING, THAT REDUCE FUELS SHOULD DECREASE DAMAGES EXPERIENCED BY LANDOWNERS, DAMAGES INCURRED BY NEIGHBORING LANDOWNERS IF FIRE SPREADS TO THEIR PROPERTY, AND GOVERNMENT FIRE SUPPRESSION COSTS. THE LARGE POSITIVE EXTERNALITY ASSOCIATED WITH PREVENTATIVE ACTION SUGGESTS INDIVIDUALS MAY IMPLEMENT LESS FUEL MANAGEMENT THAN IS SOCIALLY OPTIMAL FOR THEIR REGION. THE MAJORITY OF FOREST IN THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S. IS OWNED BY NON-INDUSTRIAL PRIVATE FOREST LANDOWNERS (NIPFL), MANY OF WHOM SELL TIMBER COMMERCIALLY. FOCUSING ON NIPFL, THIS PROJECT WILL IDENTIFY FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SUBOPTIMAL FUEL MANAGEMENT AND DETERMINE POLICY OPTIONS THAT ENCOURAGE INCREASED FUEL MANAGEMENT. THIS PROJECT WILL DETERMINE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PAST FIRE MANAGEMENT AND TREE MORTALITY FROM RECENT WILDFIRES. THE PROJECT WILL UTILIZE SURVEYS AND EXPERIMENTAL GAMES TO DETERMINE NIPFL'S CURRENT FIRE RISK PERCEPTIONS, CURRENT FIRE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, PAST PARTICIPATION IN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND FACTORS THAT AFFECT THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IN COST-SHARING PROGRAMS OR REGIONAL COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS. USING THESE RESULTS, WE WILL PARAMETERIZE A BIOECONOMIC MODEL TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS INCENTIVES AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO INCREASE FUEL MANAGEMENT. RESULTS WILL BE DISSEMINATED TO FOREST LANDOWNERS, RELEVANT FORESTRY ASSOCIATIONS, AND POLICYMAKERS. REACHING OPTIMAL LEVELS OF FUEL MANAGEMENT WILL LOWER RISK FOR NIPFL TIMBER PRODUCERS AND INCREASE LONG-TERM PROFITABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THEIR PRODUCTION.