Nature Conservancy intentionally sets fires to help with tree migration

MARDELA SPRINGS, Md. – Experts with the Maryland and D.C. Nature Conservancy spent their Thursday morning intentionally setting fires at the Plum Creek preserve to help with tree migration. Currently – the Conservancy is working to restore and create a habitat for longleaf pine savannahs in a number of states. Officials say about six years ago, they planted about one thousand longleaf pine seedlings at the Plum Creek Preserve as part of an experiment to look at whether assisted migration was an option for the species. Experts tell 47 ABC longleaf saplings actually require fire in order to grow, where the fire will burn off the dead grasses, leaving the saplings relatively green and untouched.

“In light of climate change and warming temperatures and more extreme weather events, we feel that bringing the longleaf pines here, again as an experiment, will teach us a lot about how the longleaf pines respond to this environment. We’re hoping that bringing these in, will create a more resilient habitat here,” said Ecologist for the  Maryland, D.C. Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, Deborah Landau.

Officials say this burn also ties into a planting event the conservancy has scheduled for February 27th, where local volunteers will help plant an additional 500 longleaf pine trees on the preserve.