Wonder why public land managers use prescribed fire? Considering prescribed burning on your own land? Landowners and members of the public are invited to a free fire ecology workshop May 12 in Winona that will cover these questions and a wealth of fire science information. Registration deadline is May 4.
Led by land management professionals and fire science researchers, attendees will learn about:
- the historical role and ecology of fire in the Missouri Ozarks, including evidence from tree-ring studies and pollen studies;
- how plant and animal communities adapted to fire;
- the impact of fire on wildlife forage and nesting, and how fire can be used to manage wildlife habitat;
- the impact of fire suppression on Ozark forests during the 20th century;
- the beneficial and negative effects of prescribed fire; and
- opportunities for technical assistance and cost sharing for fire management on private property.
The workshop, held 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., will begin at the Twin Pines Conservation Education Center with presentations and then move to Chilton Creek Research and Demonstration Area for in-the-field discussions. Lunch will be provided, courtesy of theMissouri Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federationand theConservation Federation of Missouri.
Two additional fire ecology workshops are being offered: May 19 at Roaring River State Park, Cassville; and June 2 at Mineral Area College and St. Joe State Park, Farmington.
The workshop series is hosted by the Oak Woodlands and Forests Fire Consortium and partnering organizations: Missouri Department of Conservation, The Nature Conservancy, National Wild Turkey Federation, Mark Twain National Forest, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
Read more about the fire ecology workshops on the Oak Fire Science website, www.oakfirescience.com. Register on the website or by phone at: 573-884-9262. Contact Joe Marschall with questions: marschallj@missouri.edu. A printable flyer for this event is also available on the website.