The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) and Parks Canada, today announced a partnership highlighting their cooperative efforts to carry out prescribed fires in Manitobawith the goal of restoring long-term ecosystem health.
The agreement aims to share resources and expertise on prescribed fire planning, training, communications and implementation in Riding Mountain National Park and on NCC properties.
On May 3rd and 4th, the partnership successfully completed a scheduled prescribed burn on a Nature Conservancy of Canada property located in the Rural Municipality of Rossburn.
This prescribed burn provided an excellent opportunity for the fire crews from both organizations to build capacity and improve operations for future prescribed fire activities.
In this case, fire was deliberately applied to reduce fuels and maintain the size of the grassland by thinning woody species like trembling aspen and willow and improve the condition of the prairie.
Beforehand, an Operational Prescribed Burn Plan was developed by the Nature Conservancy of Canada with input from Parks Canada. It described the conditions, permits, procedures, personnel and equipment needed to burn safely and effectively. The weather, fuel condition and topography were also analyzed to predict fire behaviour.
Fire is a natural part of ecosystem dynamics and plays an important role in the development, maintenance and restoration of fire-dependant ecosystems and wildlife habitat. These ecosystems, where the vegetation becomes highly flammable during the dry season, provide optimal environmental conditions for fire. They also have favourable terrain that facilitates the wide and quick spread of fire when winds are present.
Prescribed burns are conducted under controlled environmental conditions in a safe and professional manner designed to generate prescribed management outcomes.
Quotes
“This Agreement with Parks Canada provides an excellent opportunity for NCC to work in partnership to implement safe and effective use of prescribed fire management in Manitoba.”
Prescribed fire is an essential tool in managing Manitoba’s fire-adapted prairie ecosystems.”
Julie Pelc, Manager of Stewardship Programs
Nature Conservancy of Canada, Manitoba Region
As a world leader with more than 30 years of experience in using fire to naturally restore and maintain the ecosystem health of national parks, Parks Canada is very pleased to have cooperatively implemented the prescribed fire on NCC’s Elk Glen property. Our partnership with the NCC – the first of its kind in Canada - helps us meet our common objectives of communicating and using fire for aspen parkland restoration in the Riding Mountain National Park region.”
Michaela Kent, Superintendent,
Riding Mountain National Park, Parks Canada
Facts:
A number of beneficial effects have been linked to fire, including:
· preventing vegetation succession (e.g. prairie to forest)
· increasing native species diversity
· creating a variety of vegetation communities, habitat types and successional stages across the landscape
· effective nutrient cycling and moisture stimulating vegetation growth
· increasing food production for wildlife
· decreasing exotic and undesirable species, including problematic native wood species
· reducing i annual fuel accumulation decreasing the threat/chance of wildfires
ABOUT:
The Nature Conservancy of Canada is the nation's leading land conservation organization, working to protect our most important natural areas and the species they sustain. Since 1962, NCC and its partners have helped to protect more than 1.1 million hectares (over 2.8 million acres), coast to coast. The Nature Conservancy of Canada has helped conserve over 25,495 hectares (63,000 acres) in Manitoba.
