The Nature Conservancy - Preparing for a Second Year of Fire in the Ossipee Pine Barrens

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The Ossipee Pine Barrens
This mosaic of different aged and structured habitat, mostly of pitch pine and scrub oak, is influenced by sandy soils (outwash from the Ice Age) and, over the eons, by a steady regimen of lightning-caused fire.

N.H. Public Radio
Hear the report on last year's prescribed burns in the Ossipee Pine Barrens by N.H. Public Radio.

Restoring the of Fire in the Ossipee Pine Barrens Ossipee Pine Barrens Fire Restoration
Read more about the role of fire in the Ossipee Pine Barrens.

How The Nature Conservancy maintains fires natural role for nature and people.

Preparing for a Second Year of Prescribed Fire in the Ossipee Pine Barrens

After last year’s inaugural season of prescribed burns in the Ossipee Pine Barrens, the Conservancy is preparing for round two this summer. “We learned a lot from last year’s prescribed burns in the pine barrens, and we’ll be building on those successes as we continue our restoration work this year,” said Jeff Lougee, manager of the Conservancy’s Mount Washington Valley Program.

“We learned something about how the fire and smoke behave under certain conditions. We learned the workings of the fire crew and equipment in this setting. And we learned how the prescribed burns will help us to meet our ecological management and fuel reduction goals. We also had great conditions last year, a fantastic crew, and good support from the towns and community.”

The Conservancy has introduced prescribed burns in the globally rare Ossipee Pine Barrens ecosystem to benefit not only the area’s unique flora and fauna, but also neighboring families and businesses by reducing fuel loads that have built up over the decades.

Before burning this summer, the Conservancy will clear fire breaks around areas that will be burned, and widen fire protection roads. We plan to use prescribed burns to restore five units of pine barrens habitat, 65 acres in all. The prescribed burns will be conducted sometime before September 30 and only when all safety parameters are met –during days when weather, wind and other conditions are just right. The burn units have already been harvested and cleared of much of accumulated woody fuel.

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): © Eric Aldrich (Prescribed burn in Ossipee Pine Barrens); © Joe Klementovich (fire in the Ossipee Pine Barrens); © Joe Klementovich (fire in the Ossipee Pine Barrens).