A prescribed burn to restore habitat at a rare sandplain natural community, which supports a range of fire-dependent species, is planned at the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department's Sandbar Wildlife Management Area (WMA) this spring.
"Species that depend on natural disturbance from fire, such as pitch pine, as well as several threatened and endangered plants are found at the Sandbar WMA," said Grace Glynn, State Botanist with Fish & Wildlife. "This prescribed burn is part of ongoing restoration work to help the rare sandplain natural community at Sandbar by mimicking natural fires in an intentional, safe way that improves habitat for a diversity of plants and wildlife."
The burn will be conducted by professionals from the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation, the New Hampshire Division of Forests & Lands, and the U.S. Forest Service alongside biologists from Fish & Wildlife.
"Prescribed burns are planned and conducted with safety as the first priority," said Kathy Decker, the Forest Protection Program Manager with Forests, Parks & Recreation. "One key element is working within specific weather parameters. We will conduct this prescribed burn only under favorable weather conditions and use proven techniques to minimize smoke impacts to the public."
The burn will take place over several days starting on Tuesday, May 12. It will be focused on 53 acres of the WMA just west of Route 2. Signs will be in place along Route 2 to notify residents and commuters when the burn is taking place, and professional teams will be on site for the full duration of the burn.