Spring/Summer 2024
The Power of Prescribed Fire The red-headed woodpecker, found in oak woodlands across Illinois, is one example of a species that is dependent on fire. The controlled application of fire—known as prescribed fire— helps clear dense brush from forest floors, ensuring that acorns get the sunlight they need to grow into oaks that attract the insects that woodpeckers eat. “Animals and plants have evolved with fire, and they depend on habitats that prescribed fire can help restore or support,” says The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC’s) Bill Kleiman, Illinois fire manager and project director at TNC’s Nachusa Grasslands Preserve. This is why, for 60-plus years, TNC has embraced “good fire” as a key conservation strategy.
Restoring Nature’s Balance
Without fire, Illinois prairies and woodlands quickly become overrun with invasive shrubs
and plants. Prescribed fire is healthy for the environment because it reduces these invaders, encouraging new growth of native plant species. In addition, across the United States, prescribed fire removes brush and small trees in native habitats, helping to prevent wildfires.
Managing Potential Risks
Prescribed fires on TNC preserves and partner lands are managed by our skilled fire teams, which have been trained to mitigate potential risks, says Kleiman. For example, the fire teams clear ground to create firebreaks, or strips of bare soil, which prevents flames from escaping the boundary of the area to be burned and helps keep burn crews safe. Considering wind direction and speed and other weather conditions also reduces smoke that may compromise air quality.
IN THIS ISSUE: 2 Fighting Western Wildfires 3 A Road Trip Around TNC Preserves 3 Test Your Native Plant Know-How 4 Technologies Aiding Conservation 5 Using e-DNA to Track Fish Species 5 From Coal Mine to Clean Energy Hub 6 Urban Nature Spotlights 7 Emiquon: Restoring the Jewel of the Illinois River