Fire Ecology of Florida and the Southeastern Coastal Plain

An overview of the importance of fire to ecosystems in the
Southeast, with guidance on how to best conduct controlled burns in the
region

A biodiversity hotspot,
Florida is home to many ecosystems and species that evolved in the
presence of frequent fire. In this book, Reed Noss discusses the
essential role of fire in generating biodiversity and offers best
practices for using fire to keep the region’s ecosystems healthy and
resilient.



Reviewing several lines of evidence, Noss
shows that fire has been important to the southeastern Coastal Plain for
tens of millions of years. He explains how the region’s natural fire
regimes are connected to its climate, high rate of lightning strikes,
physical chemistry, and vegetation. But urbanization and active fire
suppression have reduced the frequency and extent of fires. Noss
suggests the practice of controlled burning can and should be improved
to protect fire-dependent species and natural communities from decline
and extinction.



Noss argues that fire managers should
attempt to simulate natural fire regimes when conducting controlled
burns. Based on what the species of the Southeast likely experienced
during their evolutionary histories, he makes recommendations about
pyrodiversity, how often and in what seasons to burn, the optimal
heterogeneity of burns, mechanical treatments such as cutting and
roller-chopping, and the proper use of fuel breaks. In doing so, Noss is
the first to apply the new discipline of evolutionary fire ecology to a
specific region. This book is a fascinating history of fire ecology
in Florida, an enlightening look at why fire matters to the region, and a
necessary resource for conservationists and fire managers in the state
and elsewhere.