The Nature Conservancy begins Controlled Burn Season

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Nature Conservancy of North Carolina is gearing up for its controlled burn season, a critical part of maintaining the state’s unique longleaf pine forests. Off of Highway 211, these forests are adapted to and rely on frequent, low-intensity fires. These controlled burns are essential for knocking back shrubs and other vegetation, which creates space for native plants and animals to thrive.

We saw the team preparing for the burn season, but Debbie Maurer, the Southeast Coastal Plain Program Director for the Nature Conservancy, explained that they are unable to carry out a controlled burn right now.

“We need to get some rain, we need to get some more moisture in the ground. The soil is really very dry in this part of eastern North Carolina, so we need to get some moisture in the ground. Once we have the right conditions, we are going to burn as often as we can,” said Maurer.

The controlled burn season in North Carolina begins in January and runs through August. During this time, crews will continue to monitor the weather and soil conditions, carefully choosing when to carry out burns that help preserve these ecosystems.