Neighbors helping neighbors is a proud tradition in the western Great Plains — from community barn raisings to moving cattle. Prescribed burn associations are a modern manifestation of that long-lived pioneer tradition. They are composed of ranchers and farmers and their neighbors, relatives, and friends who work together to bring back another ancient tradition, fire, which has long been part of maintaining the natural balance of the prairie. Today, these burn associations use fire to restore native prairie vegetation that supports grassland dependent species, reduce woody invasive plants that take water and nutrients from native plants, and reduce high fuel loads across the plains.
Playa Lakes Joint Venture supports prescribed burn associations because fire is a cost efficient tool to restore our prairies to an almost natural state in terms of both plants and animals, including the bird species that rely on these grasslands. There are now 17 prescribed burn associations in Oklahoma, eight in Kansas, 10 in Texas and 12 in Nebraska. Each of those states also has an advisory group, called a state prescribed fire council, to help educate, train and equip the associations.
Learn more: http://pljv.org/news/playa-post/august-2013#story2
