Florida on Fire: Prescribed Fire in the Sunshine State

Naturally Florida

In this episode, we explore fire in Florida, what ecosystems burn and why, the history and current state of fire in Florida, and some neat adaptations found in plants and animals of fire-depended ecosystems.

Learn more:

• Fire and Habitat - https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/archive/hot_topics/environment/fire_habitat.shtml
• Effects of Fire on Florida’s Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat - https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/uw132
• Wind and Trees: Lessons Learned from Hurricanes (Mentioned by Shannon) - https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FR173

How You Can Help:

Consider Creating a Firewise Landscape -

These documents outline actions homeowners can take to better prepare their landscape for a possible wildfire:

• https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FR076
• https://www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/For-Communities/Firewise-USA/Create-Defensible-Space-Around-Homes
• https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FR334
• https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FR147
• https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FR151

Support Prescribed Burning Programs –

These resources outline prescribed burning efforts throughout Florida:

• https://www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Wildland-Fire/Prescribed-Fire
• https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/habitat/prescribed-fire/

Sources for this Episode:

• Gopher Frogs, Burrows, and Fire: Interactions in the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem - https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/UW295
• Effects of fire history, tree age, and canopy seed bank size on serotiny of Ocala sand pine (Pinus clausa var. clausa) in Florida scrub - https://www.jstor.org/stable/26477959
• Chapter 9 – Ecological Effects - https://www.fdacs.gov/content/download/39688/file/pft_chapter_09_ecological_effects.pdf

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