Eglin uses controlled burns to protect pine forests

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman LuCelia Nagel
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) --  Conserving the longleaf pine ecosystem here has always been a top priority for base officials, and the base’s natural resources section does its part to help.

A large part of the environmental mission here is the prescribed burn program. The primary reason for burning is to help manage the ecosystem and keep it healthy.

At one time, the southeastern United States was home to more than 90 million acres of longleaf pine forests. Of those 90 million acres, only about 3 million still exist. The ecosystem is considered a fire-dependent species. The pine trees require frequent fire to survive. This was previously taken care of by low-intensity fires caused by lightning strikes. However, the suppression of fires has caused a steady deterioration of ecosystem health. Over the years, the pine trees have also been logged nearly into oblivion because of their high quality.

Eglin is the largest single ownership of longleaf pine in the country. The goal of the burn program is to preserve the acres and the flora and fauna that live there.

“Many species of plants and animals, such as the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, are dependent on the presence of the longleaf pine for habitat,” said James Furman, wild land fire program manager.

Active protection of endangered species habitats helps keep the mission here flexible by ensuring compliance with federal regulations, such as the Endangered Species Act.

The second reason for the burn program is fire prevention. Without regular burning, forest fuels build up. The fuels can be dangerous if they catch fire. With prescribed burns, the fire is limited in size and is enclosed by boundaries such as roadways and creeks so the fire cannot escape. If a natural fire were to break out, there would be little fuel available and it would be more manageable.

The planning process involves several different forest plan levels. It includes considerations such as long-term goals, mission requirements and weather patterns. The specific burns are forecasted about one year before implementation.

“In keeping with our five-year management plan, we have a goal of (about) 70,000 acres per year,” said Chadwick Avery, a fire ecologist. “Last year we burned 77,000 acres, and this year we have burned nearly 80,000 with six weeks left in the burn season.”

The program operates with 12 full-time employees and four seasonal employees, with assistance from volunteers from the fire department here, the local fire departments and the occasional scientist who has an interest in prescribed burns.

“So far, this is shaping up to be our most effective burn season yet,” Mr. Furman said. “The people we work with are really enthusiastic about the work, and they go home every day with instant gratification that what they do helps us reach the ultimate goal of conserving this ecosystem.”