**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** CROSS-TIMBERS PROVIDE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES VALUES IN INCREASINGLY HUMAN-DOMINATED LANDSCAPES AND ARE HOME TO MANYWILDLIFE AND MIGRATORY BIRD SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVATION NEEDS. THESE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES ARE THREATENED BY BOTH NATURAL AND ANTHROPOGENIC FACTORS INCLUDING CLIMATE VARIABILITY, INVASIVE SPECIES, URBANIZATION, AND ALTERATION IN FIRE REGIMES. DESPITE ITS ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPORTANCE TO PEOPLE LIVING WITHIN THE REGION, THERE IS LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DYNAMICS OF THE MOSTLY PRIVATELY-OWNED CROSS-TIMBERS FORESTS AND THE SOCIAL FACTORS THAT MOTIVATE INDIVIDUAL OWNERS FOR ITS MANAGEMENT. THEREFORE, OUR BROADER GOAL IS TO IDENTIFY THE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS THAT ARE SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE, ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE, AND HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO ENHANCE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN THE CROSS-TIMBERS AN ECOLOGICALLY AND SOCIALLY IMPORTANT ECOREGION IN THE SOUTHERN GREAT PLAINS OF THE UNITED STATES. UTILIZING BWC ANALYSIS, WE WILL IDENTIFY PREFERENCES AND BARRIERS TO LANDOWNER PARTICIPATION IN SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN THE CROSS-TIMBERS. LIKEWISE, WE WILL EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF PRESCRIPTIONS ON THE TECHNICAL AND ALLOCATIVE EFFICIENCY IN THE JOINT PRODUCTION OF WATER, BIODIVERSITY, WILDLIFE HABITATS, AND CARBON SEQUESTRATION IN THIS REGION. THE SEM MODEL WILL HELP UNDERSTAND THE INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ATTITUDES, PERCEIVED NORMS, AND BEHAVIORAL CONTROL OF LANDOWNERS. TAILORING EXTENSION AND OTHER GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS BASED ON THIS INFORMATION CAN ENGAGE A DIVERSE POOL OF TRADITIONAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL STAKEHOLDERS IN ENHANCING ECOSYSTEM SERVICES VALUES IN THE CROSS-TIMBER REGION.

Oklahoma State University, Stillwater OK

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