|
Thaddeus Penfield
Controlled burn in pine flatwoods
|
Prescribed burns are one of the chief management
tools for this area. Fire is crucial to maintain the longleaf
pine/wiregrass ecosystem. Numerous protected species, including the
gopher tortoise and Sherman's fox squirrel, make their homes in
this fire dependant habitat. Prescribed burns are used to reduce
fuel loads of pine needles and oak leaves, to return valuable
nutrients to the soils, and also to keep understory hardwoods at
bay. Curtailing understory and midstory hardwood growth in longleaf
pine habitat is crucial to maintaining the open landscape that is
necessary for the species that depend on this natural community to
thrive.
Persons with Disabilities