NWTF Funds Boost Prescribed Burn Efforts, Enhancing Wildlife Habitat

California's Sierra Nevada landscape is a fire-dependent ecosystem where native plants and wildlife have adapted to low-intensity fires over millennia. These fires historically improved habitat, foraging resources and biodiversity. However, fire suppression policies, land use changes and severe drought have disrupted this balance, increasing wildfire severity and habitat destruction. To restore this balance and introduce fire, the landscape must be ready to receive fire. Preparing the landscape for fire is a priority for the NWTF across California, other western states and in all of the Big Six regions.

Despite growing awareness of the benefits of prescribed burns, the reality is stark. They are challenging to apply on public land, due to weather conditions, smoke and air quality, concerns about stretching resources during fire season and more. On private lands, where the potential for prescribed burns is high, many landowners recognize the ecological advantages but may lack the necessary knowledge and skills. Additionally, few programs directly assist them in utilizing prescribed burns for land management, leaving a significant gap in support. 

In response to this urgent need, the Placer Prescribed Burn Association, operating within the Placer Resource Conservation District framework, was established in 2021 with a clear mission: to educate and empower private landowners in the use of prescribed burns. Through a series of educational workshops and training sessions, Placer PBA equips community members with the knowledge, skills and confidence to implement safe and effective prescribed burns on their properties. Collaborating with a diverse array of partners, including local, state, and federal agencies, tribal entities and conservation organizations, the Placer PBA ensures that the benefits of prescribed burns extend beyond individual properties, contributing to landscape-scale conservation efforts.

The funds provided by the California State Chapter Super Fund allowed the Placer PCB to acquire supplies and tools such as fire hoses that will educate community members. These tools and skills will equip landowners with the knowledge to safely reintroduce fire and create greater community wildfire resiliency.

“Prescribed burning is an effective, inexpensive habitat management tool and gives fast results,” said Krista Modlin, NWTF district biologist for California, Washington, Oregon and Nevada. “In a state where prescribed burning is met with conflicting opinions, programs like this to educate the community are crucial.”

Prescribed burning is a crucial tool to mitigate high-intensity wildfire risks by reducing fuel buildup as fast-moving, high-intensity wildfires pose a significant threat to wildlife and communities. Post-catastrophic fire landscapes often lack the necessary resources for their survival, and after these severe fires, habitats take years to recover. Top of Form

While the benefits of prescribed burns are manifold, they are particularly significant for wildlife, including California’s wild turkey populations. By creating and maintaining diverse habitats, prescribed burns provide essential foraging resources and nesting sites for turkeys and numerous other species.

The partnership between the NWTF and Placer PBA is yielding promising results in Grass Valley, California. Following prescribed burns conducted last fall, the area is experiencing positive impacts, including increased plant and pollinator diversity and greater wild turkey occupancy. These management activities are not only enhancing habitat conditions but also contributing to the overall ecological health of the region. Through these collaborative efforts, the NWTF and Placer PBA are fostering a landscape where wildlife thrives.