Wildfire Suppression In Fire Dependent Forests By Jessica Tancordo

In the Beginning  Early settlers and Native Americans used fire as land management tool.  Severe fire seasons in the 20 th century brought about policies that suppressed every fire that started, but later policies would change.  As wildfire suppression continued, natural fuels from dense amounts of leaf litter and duff layer built up causing wildfires to be even greater when they occurred.

Prescribed Burning  Firefighters start and observe fires in order to allow fire dependent forests to have a chance at regrowth.  Benefits in reduction of hazardous fuels, allows germination of plants, improves wildlife habitat, disposal of logging debris, disease control, and possible decrease in non-native plant species.

Wildland Urban Interface

Pine Pocosins  Coniferous, pyrophitic woodlands  Found in SE Virginia, North Carolina, and NE South Carolina  High and Low Pocosins  Forest consists of Pond Pines and very dense shrubs with large amounts of peat.

Pine Barrens  Found in NE United States from NJ to ME  Home to plants such as Pitch Pine, Jack Pine, Wild Lupine and Scrub Oak

Grasslands  Shrublands- typically dry and prone to accumulations of highly volatile fuels  Grasslands- burns readily because fire has to go through stems and leaves of herbaceous plants, lightly heats soil allowing for decomposition and recycling of nutrients.  Savannas- herbaceous level with little to no mature trees, fires suppress tree growth but allow for open landscapes.

Wildlife in Fire Dependent Forests

Picture references               Squirrel-D3S5480.jpg Squirrel-D3S5480.jpg   

Literature references  mmunities/ncPIVa.shtml mmunities/ncPIVa.shtml    information-for-managing- woodland/documents/Fireasaforestrytool.pdf information-for-managing- woodland/documents/Fireasaforestrytool.pdf  cpfmodule/bays/bays_organic2.htm cpfmodule/bays/bays_organic2.htm