A Prescribed Fire Success Story

Wednesday, 12 August 2009 09:28

It was great to see recent articles in the Washington Post and the Baltimore Sun that highlight the results of prescribed fire work we did for The Nature Conservancy MD/DC chapter this past spring.  Not only do the articles help to educate people on the role of prescribed fire, it also illustrates how quickly fire dependent species can rebound once fire is reintroduced.

Getting Results

Platanthera x canbyi

Rare hybrid of the white fringed orchid and the crested yellow orchid

(Ron Wilson)

Above is a picture of the rare orchid.  We burned the site in May and the rare orchids had increased in numbers by July!  We are especially excited because this helps to reinforce the value of growing season burns in helping to restore certain communities of vegetation.  These prescribed fires mimic the natural lighting caused fires that historically occured during the late spring and early summer.  As a result, these prescribed burns are typically conducted later in the season, when conditions can be hotter and drier.  As a result, the risk of a potential escape goes up.  However, burning in the growing season targets species like Red Maple and Sweet Gum that leaf out early and compete with rare species for light and nutrients. 

The success of this burn shows how modern prescribed fire practitioners can use good prescribed fire planning,  and well timed implementation of the prescribed burn, as one solution to help restore biodiversity in native plant communities.  We are thrilled to be part of the Solution.