Why a Demonstration Area for Prescribed Fire?
Prescribed, or controlled, fire is an important tool for land managers in Florida. Regularly burning natural areas under prescribed conditions, with trained and qualified personnel, reduces the likelihood of large-scale wildfires in Florida. In addition to reducing fuel loads, periodic controlled burns can improve wildlife habitat, enhance recreational resources, reduce pest insect populations, and help restore the native fire-dependent ecosystems. Many of the people who live in the urban-rural interface of Florida’s expanding metropolitan areas, however, may be uncomfortable with the concept of regularly burning the woods. They might have spent their childhood in a different ecosystem where they wisely learned that fire can be dangerous. If people have not experienced a nearby controlled burn, they may not realize that it can be a safe tool for land managers. A well-planned prescribed burn demonstration area can help educate citizens about the advantages and disadvantages of prescribe
