DYK: Prescribed Burns are an Important Land Management Tool

The South Florida Water Management District (District) routinely conducts prescribed burns as part of its integrated land stewardship program.

DID YOU KNOW: Prescribed burns are an important tool for managing conservation lands and support the health of South Florida's ecosystems.

WHY IT MATTERS: The District manages more than 1 million acres of public lands. Caring for these lands requires an ongoing commitment to protect water resources, native plant communities, fish and wildlife populations and natural features of the land.

BENEFITS OF PRESCRIBED BURNS: Fire management is one of the tools the District uses to ensure the health of native ecosystems and reduce the risk of uncontrolled wildfires across its 16-county region. The District conducts prescribed burns to maintain the health and ecological function of natural areas and to help manage certain invasive vegetation for the benefit of native plants and wildlife.

HOW AREAS ARE EVALUATED AND PREPARED BEFORE A BURN: Before any prescribed fire takes place, staff carefully evaluate the land to make sure burning is safe and beneficial. They look at things like how much vegetation has built up, the types of plants growing in the area, weather patterns, and nearby homes, roads, or sensitive resources.

Staff also prepare the site by creating or checking firebreaks, confirming weather conditions are within safe limits, and making sure trained crews and equipment are in place.

• How burns are monitored: During and after each prescribed burn, staff check how the fire behaved - including how fast it moved, how hot it burned, and how much vegetation and ground litter it consumed. This helps make sure the fire met its goals safely.
• What happens after the fire: In the weeks following a burn, staff return to the area to see how plants and trees are recovering. They also watch for signs of insect activity in stressed or damaged trees.
• How this helps future burns: The information collected helps land managers decide when the next burn should happen, how much vegetation should be allowed to grow between burns, and what weather conditions will make the next fire safest and most effective.

SUPPORTING NATIVE PLANTS: Most native plant communities in Florida are naturally fire-adapted, thanks to a historically high rate of lightning-induced fires in South Florida. Prescribed burns during the heaviest growing season are favored because of their historic significance and ecological benefits.

LEARN MORE: We encourage you to visit SFWMD.gov/LandManagement to learn more about prescribed burns and the District's integrated land stewardship program.

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