We did our first ecological prescribed burn in the Maine East Oak Savanna in 18 years! Thanks to Ken Schaefer and some of our Ecology Club members it was a huge success.
Oak savannas are fire-dependent ecosystems and fire is an essential element in their establishment and management. There are two kinds of fires in ecosystems: wildfires and prescribed fires. Wildfires are those that have started spontaneously, generally by lightning. Prescribed fires are those set by land managers to bring about desirable changes in ecosystems and are based on a written plan, the burn prescription. We are dealing here only with prescribed fires.
Fire plays several important roles. • Removes oak leaves and litter, opening up the soil so that plants can grow faster. This also permits planted seeds to reach the soil. • Helps perpetuate fire-dependent species. • Helps in control of harmful insects or diseases. • Improves wildlife habitat. • Enhances the appearance of the site and increases the scenic values. • Helps improve access to the savanna, making it easier to walk the property and survey the ecosystem. • Top-kills woody vegetation, shrubs and small trees, but does not kill the oaks. Top-killing does not eliminate the undesirable woody plants, but sets them back. • Kills invasive conifers such as red cedar. • Top-kills brambles. • Consumes downed brush and branches, making it possible for fires to carry better. • Hazardous fuel reduction. • Recycles nutrients from the litter into the soil.
Fire is one of the most cost-effective ways of maintaining a restored savanna, but should always be used as part of an integrated management system. Fire should never be used by itself. Also, fire is not a substitute for brush removal. In fact, it is undesirable and counterproductive to burn an unrestored savanna, because fire does not eradicate brush. Burns should only be conducted after the initial major restoration work has been completed.
