Fire Ecology

In the last decade, the Michaux State Forest has experimented with prescribed burns in several locations in an effort to promote the reestablishment of fire dependent and/or tolerant species and communities including mixed oak, scrub oak, and hard pine species, and oak/pine savannah, and glade/meadow eco-types. It is also hoped that these prescribed fires will help control the proliferation of invasive species such as barberry and non-native honeysuckle. The forest is seeking proposals to address the efficacy of these experimental projects. Specific priorities:
• Syntheses and evaluations of the design and results of other prescribed burn experiments in the Middle Atlantic and Northeast regions, with recommendations for possible best practices in the South Mountain landscape.
• Inventory and evaluation of native/target species regrowth in the Michaux SF experimental areas vs. control, unburned ecotypes in similar settings.
• Inventory and evaluation of invasive species in the Michaux SF experimental areas vs. control unburned ecotypes in similar settings.
• Recommendations for the design and implementation of future experimental prescribed burns on the Michaux State Forest.
• Monitoring sites pre- and post – burn to determine how less mobile animals like box turtles are impacted by prescribed burns.
• Monitoring bird communities at pre- and post-burn sites to document the changes over time.
• Monitoring the response of game species (e.g., woodcock, ruffed grouse, turkey) to prescribed burning.

See Attachment

This project is eligible for grants through South Mountain Partnership or other sources.