Savannah River Fire Festival provides education on prescribed burns, preventing wildfire
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Loading... - Zahra Botros
- 03 Mar 2023
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Fire is often considered one of the most destructive forces in nature. Still, as it turns out, they can be used as a force of good if prescribed correctly.
Prescribed burns are controlled fires intentionally started for the purposes of forest management. When underbrush builds up within a forestry environment, it causes the risk of wildfires to rise. Prescribed burns rid the forest of excess underbrush, keeping the odds of these fires happening low. But it can do that and so much more; prescribed burns also promote plant diversity by reducing the build-up of organic debris, thus releasing nutrients in the soil.
Even the Native American tribes, such as the Cherokee and Muscogee, used prescribed burnings to aid the growth of more crops by creating more open spaces for them. In addition, prescribed burnings also helped with hunting, burning away fallen tree branches and underbrush so hunters could move through the forest more silently. They can also help create new habitats for wildlife.
As far as the animals who live in these environments are concerned, many in Georgia have adapted to fires in Georgia and, as a result, have no trouble leaving the area when prescribed burns are being performed.
Nonetheless, responsible burners take extra care to ensure that all animals present in the area have enough time to escape on their own before fully committing to the act. Read More…
