Why is fire used as a land management tool?
Smokey the Bear certainly has done an excellent job of publicizing the detriments of forest fires. But, many times the public does not understand the difference between destructive man-induced wildfires and the need for natural, or controlled fires in maintaining the ecological integrity of our upland ecosystems. Fires have occurred naturally in Florida’s environment and plays an important role in the maintenance of healthy ecosystems. Many species of plants and animals evolved with fire as one of the influencing environmental factors and as a result, their survival is dependent on fire. Trained land managers understand this and conduct controlled burns in these fire-dependent communities to replicate the natural fire cycle. To learn more about wild land fires, visit the state’s Division of Forestry website. To report suspected arson or fire, call the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement at 1-800-342-5869.
