Fire can be an important part of maintaining diverse and healthy ecosystems. See why.
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Over time, litter (mostly in the form of needles, leaves and dead vegetation) collects along the forest floor.
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New shrubs and small trees begin to grow, obscuring necessary sunlight and choking other native species.
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Seed germination of many plants is hindered as dense litter prohibits seeds from reaching the fertile mineral soil underneath top soil.
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Litter = fuel for fire.
When a prescribed fire is introduced to an ecosystem before excessive fuel has built up, a low-intensity burn results, removing litter and exposing the soil just enough for native species to germinate and flourish.
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After a prescribed fire, fire-dependent vegetation thrives, competition among species is reduced, destructive insect populations and diseases are controlled, and excessive fuel build-up is eliminated.
