Prescribe Burns Allow For Rare Orchids, Other Flowers To Bloom

October 24, 2013

A grouping of rare orchids and other flowers blooms bright in Blackwater River State Forest this year. The brilliant colors are, the Florida Forest Service says, proof of a healthy forest aided by a robust prescribed burning program.

The forest service’s statewide land management program has also brought a resurgence of the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker in Blackwater, once down to a dozen pair and now standing at almost 100 pair.

“Our forestry management programs, especially prescribed burns, bring our state forests back into good health,” said Florida State Forester Jim Karels. “The burns are a crucial part of our statewide endangered plant conservation program, one of the longest running such programs in the country.”

The blooms in Blackwater now include Pot-of-Gold and Catesby’s lilies, White Top Pitcher Plants, and several species of rare orchids, including four Yellow Fringeless Orchids (Platanthera integra) blooming together, more than has ever been seen in the state forest since the program began. Conservation efforts will ensure these plants continue to bloom on state forest lands for many years to come.

Prescribed burning helps manage the health of forest lands, control pests and disease, and improve wildlife habitat and control hardwood encroachment in sensitive areas such as pitcher plant bogs or red-cockaded woodpecker clusters. It also contributes to the restoration and maintenance of biological communities and reduces the hazard of wildfire.

Since 1991, Florida has worked with state universities, researchers and other nonprofits to support about 10 endangered plant conservation projects each year. Other than prescribed burns on managed lands, projects include removing exotic and invasive species, inventory of state forest lands for rare plants, and collection and propagation of plants. The program has protected more than 100 species of endangered plants on more than 150 public lands.

Comments

One Response to “Prescribe Burns Allow For Rare Orchids, Other Flowers To Bloom”

  1. Carolyn Bramblett on October 25th, 2013 5:14 am

    Beautiful.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News