Prescribed Fire

Introduction

We often think of fire as purely destructive, but in certain contexts it can be a useful tool or step towards rejuvenation. 

This page explores the benefits of prescribed fires, including their ability to reduce fire risk during hot weather, and how to use fire responsibly as a tool to replenish unhealthy landscapes.

Benefits of Prescribed Fire

Burning in ecosystems that are evolved to burn each year helps kill off invasive species while helping fire-dependent species germinate and thrive. Burning old growth can open up spaces to get more sunlight, and burned matter enriches soil. The dark colour can help the soil warm faster, allowing more seeds to germinate. Open spaces can be important to species such as lizards and grassland birds to forage and find mates.

When prescribed burning is reintroduced, it can significantly boost wildlife populations, bring back plant species that haven't been seen in a long time, and can prevent much larger, more harmful fires later in the year.

The resources in this section are intended to demystify prescribed burning and to empower land managers to return to this time-tested practice with understanding about local guidelines, safety, and species.

Reduced Future Fire Risk

Currently wild fires are increasingly caused by prolonged time periods without any cooling rain. They are becoming more frequent, more extreme, and longer lasting thanks to climate change, thanks to increasing greenhouse gas emissions.

Reduce Air Pollution

By creating smaller, more controlled fires on still days, when biomass is lower in the ecosystem (less plant matter has had time to grow) communities and land stewards can dramatically reduce air pollution compared to raging, out-of-control fires later in the year. 

Air pollution is still a concern however, so it is important to notify the correct people, and wear protection. In the grant section bellow, there is at least one program offering air filters for people who will be in the effected areas during prescribed burns. People with respiratory issues should stay indoors, and use additional equipment such as filters and masks if possible.

Protect Infrastructure & Energy Grid

Fires not only cause homelessness and expensive damage to entire communities, but they can also knock out critical infrastructure including power lines. Prescribed burning helps us get ahead of these issues and prevent future damage, which saves communities thousands if not millions over the long term.

Invasive Species

Some invasive species increase fire risks in certain environments. In the Piney Wood Forests of North America for example, the native trees and vines are fire resistant, however the invasive vines now growing in those woods, can catch fire and help it spread up to the canopy where it can cause severe harm to the trees.

An invasive species tendency towards burning in fire-prone ecosystems can make fire the perfect tool to control their spread.

Revive Struggling Ecosystems

Some ecosystems evolved alongside seasonal fires, and as a result many can't complete their reproductive cycles without these fires. Fire alters the landscape by thinning out weeds, helping the seeds of fire-tolerant species to germinate, and even alters the soil chemistry.

In places where indigenous cultures once cared for the land via seasonal burning, but were removed from the land, massacred, or legally prohibited from conducting these burns, the landscape has noticeably deteriorated. Much less biodiversity remains, and what remains is increasingly a tangle of invasive species that negatively impact the remaining native species.

Some regions that are returning to burning traditions are specifically seeking the guidance of local indigenous people as they can often offer expert advice gained from centuries of hands-on experience with the local species, geographies, wind conditions, and more.

Biodiversity Loss & Extinction

"Nearly 3 billion koalas, kangaroos and other native Australian animals were killed or displaced by bushfires in 2019 and 2020, showed a study by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), triple the organisation's earlier estimates.

Some 143 million mammals, 2.46 billion reptiles, 180 million birds and 51 million frogs were impacted by the country's worst bushfires in decades, the WWF said on Tuesday.

The fires destroyed over 11 million hectares (37 million acres) across the Australian southeast, equal to about half the area of the United Kingdom. When they were blazing, the WWF estimated the number of affected animals at 1.25 billion."

...

"The total includes animals displaced because of destroyed habitats and which now face a lack of food and shelter or the prospect of moving to already occupied habitats.

Researchers said the destruction will see some species become extinct before their existence is even recorded." - Reuters 

Tools, Guides, & Resources

Africa

Note for Rewilding-Based Solution

Rewilding with Iberian Ibex might be a good species to consider for this type of program.

"The Portuguese ibex (Capra pyrenaica lusitanica) is an extinct subspecies of Iberian ibex that inhabited the north mountainous zones of Portugal, Galicia, Asturias and western Cantabria. In size and colouration it was much like the Spanish animals, though inclining towards brown rather than black markings. Its horns were strikingly different from any of the other Iberian subspecies." - Wikipedia: Portuguese Ibex

North America

USA

California

Oklahoma

New Mexico

Tennessee

Oceana

Australia

Organizations

The following organizations help reduce the impact of fire. Some promote controlled burning at specific times of year in appropriate locations, to prevent bigger, more dangerous fires later in the year. Others educate farmers on affordable ways to avoid crop burning. 

International

Africa

South Africa

Europe

France

Portugal

Spain

North America

Canada

USA

 Alabama

Arkansas

California

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Illinois

Iowa

Kansas

Nebraska

Nevada

North Carolina

Oklahoma

Oregon

Oceana

Australia

South Australia

Western Australia

Maps

North America

USA

Iowa

California

Oregon

Oceana

Australia

Western Australia

Education, Training & Certification Opportunities

North America

Canada

USA

Oregon


Grants & Funding

North America

USA

California

Missouri

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