Fire Adapted Communities
The role of fire in an ecosystem
Ecologically appropriate fire is important to forest health as it can promote native fire dependent species such as shortleaf pine, and limit the number of catastrophic wildfire events by reducing fuel loading. Additionally, ensuring preparedness for wildfire events is important for community resilience.
Fire is a natural part of the environment and many of the forests in North Carolina require fire to remain healthy. Native American communities and early settlers utilized fire in their daily lives to promote conditions suitable for hunting and foraging and reduce pest populations (such as ticks).
Read more about Southeastern Fire Adapted Communities here.
How can I do this on my property?
Prescribed Fire
Wildfire Resilience
Mountain Valleys RC&D Individual Homeowner Self-Assessment
North Carolina Forest Service Fuels Removal Program
Fire Resistant Landscaping in North Carolina by NC State Extension
With support from the Fire Learning Network, the Forest Stewards Guild collaborated with NC Forest Service, Mountain Valleys RC&D Council, and NC Wildlife Resources Commission to produce a virtual “Learn-and-Burn” based at DuPont State Recreational Forest near Brevard, North Carolina. In this video, questions such as “What is the difference between a prescribed burn and a wildfire?”, “Why should we burn?”, and “Can I burn my own property, and if so, what do I need to do that safely?” are answered during a live burn by a variety of experts.
Learn to Burn.
Family forest landowners often have forest ownership goals that include maintaining and enhancing the forest in a natural, healthy way. To do that in certain forest types in the mountains of North Carolina, the use of fire as a tool is necessary.
Who do I contact?
Your North Carolina Forest Service County Ranger
Your local RC&D within the Appalachian RC&D Fire Adapted Communities Coalition
Looking for more?
Wildlife Habitat
As a part of one of the most diverse ecoregions in North America, the forests in the greater Sandy Mush watershed are home to various wildlife groups such as neotropical migrant birds, large mammals, and the largest number of terrestrial snail species in the United States.
Ecological Timber Management
Sustainable forestry via timber harvesting is a way for family forest landowners in Sandy Mush to generate revenue and ensure healthy forest structure. Some forests in the region have been harvested using unsustainable practices and require some degree of forest restoration to promote their development into high value timber stands.
Funding Forest Management
Proper forest stewardship is important to many groups and organizations, and because of that, opportunities to share the cost of forest management activities exist. Utilizing programs such as NRCS funding can be a great next step in forest restoration.