I used to live in Africa, and the park rangers would do controlled grassland burns, every year.
I now live on Long Island (New York). We have the Pine Barrens, out east. They are an important filter for our aquifer, and are (rightly) protected. I have family that was heavily involved in establishing said protection.
Scrub pines (what makes up the Pine Barrens) are supposed to burn, from time to time. It's actually something that is required, in order to ensure the trees continue reproducing.
A few years after I moved here, (early 1990s), we had a major Pine Barrens fire (accidental). We have not had one, since, and I don't think anyone has the political stomach to do a controlled burn.
There was a controlled burn in April, and the state recently published a 150 page "Central Pine Barrens Comprehensive Prescribed Fire Management Plan".
I have family that work for the NJ forest fire service and they are always doing small controlled burns. Like, all the time. Ranger goes out with a small sprayer, spreads some accelerant, and watches.
I now live on Long Island (New York). We have the Pine Barrens, out east. They are an important filter for our aquifer, and are (rightly) protected. I have family that was heavily involved in establishing said protection.
Scrub pines (what makes up the Pine Barrens) are supposed to burn, from time to time. It's actually something that is required, in order to ensure the trees continue reproducing.
A few years after I moved here, (early 1990s), we had a major Pine Barrens fire (accidental). We have not had one, since, and I don't think anyone has the political stomach to do a controlled burn.