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Relatively open pitch pine forests have become choked with shrubs
and
other wildland fuels setting the stage for unnaturally severe wildfires.
© The Nature Conservancy
After more than 50 years of active fire suppression,
key ecosystems in the Gunks are at risk. In the absence of fire,
accumulations of fuel on the forest floor—in the form of leaves,
twigs, and highly flammable shrubs—has set the stage for unusually
severe, high-intensity fires that could irreparably harm our forests
and threaten homes and property around the ridge. Hardwood species
such as red maple—which have the ability to regenerate in the
shade of taller trees—have gradually begun to invade pitch
pine and oak forests, dramatically altering the unique habitats
important for many of the rare plant and animal species found in
the Gunks. Continued degradation of these important forest types
and loss of key species could have devastating impacts on the biodiversity
and ecological integrity of the ridge.
The Shawangunk Ridge Biodiversity Partnership is currently
developing a ridgewide fire management plan that will include guidelines
for conducting prescribed burns. The goal of the Partnership’s
fire management program is to reintroduce fire in a carefully planned
and controlled way to reduce the risk of severe wildfires and to
restore the health of our forests. Similar programs have been implemented
across the country to deal with the growing problems associated
with widespread fire suppression since the early 1900s. For
more information, refer to FAQs.
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