Expert will explain benefits of controlled burning for Westmoreland woodlands group
Flames can damage a wooded area when they run wild and unchecked. But one that is controlled can benefit an ecosystem.
Jesse Kreye, an assistant research professor of fire and natural resources management at Penn State University, will explain the positive impact of prescribed fire Thursday March 19 at the J. Roy Houston Conservation Center in Hempfield.
The controlled-burning presentation, sponsored by the Westmoreland Woodlands Improvement Association, begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Westmoreland Conservation District barn, behind the Donohoe Center along Donohoe Road. Light refreshments will be served at 6 p.m.
Admission is free for association members and students with current ID. Cost is $5 for others. Register by March 16 by calling Sandy at 724-837-5271 and selecting option 2.
“Restoring fire-dependent ecosystems and mitigating wildfire hazard are often primary objectives of prescribed burning,” Kreye said.
Prescribed burning is conducted under specified environmental conditions within a predetermined area, in accordance with the Pennsylvania Prescribed Burning Practices Act of 2009.
Open woodlands, savannas and prairies often were maintained by both natural and man-initiated burning. Many wildlife species that are on the decline depend on habitat structure and plant communities that are created by fire.
From 2010-15, the annual number of prescribed fires in Pennsylvania increased from 56 to 244, with the number of acres burned growing from 2,737 to 14,553.
Kreye previously worked as a firefighter with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Forest Service in California. He studied forestry and wildland fire management at Humboldt State University in California and forest resources and conservation at the University of Florida.
The Woodlands Improvement Association encourages good management of woodlands for aesthetics, timber, water quality and control, wildlife habitat, plant propagation and recreation.
Visit westmorelandwoodlands.org to learn more about the group and programs and field trips it schedules throughout the year.
Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.
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