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TheTabor Volunteer Fire Department conducts a controlled burn in the
southern Loess Hills
© David Carter |
This Network provides a framework to explore and implement large-scale regional grassland conservation strategies. Conserving grassland habitats is a high priority for The Nature Conservancy, and lessons learned through this Network further grassland conservation efforts in other regions of the U.S. as well as in other countries.
Vision
The Great Plains FLN brings together landscapes from throughout the Great Plains to develop strategies to integrate private lands into landscape-scale fire management activities that serve ecological restoration objectives.
Background
The Great Plains Fire Learning Network formed in 2004 to bring together stakeholders to develop strategies for private lands fire management and restoration. The Network encompasses 29.8 million acres and is made up of primarily privately-owned landscapes. Private ownership presents unique challenges to restoring fire on large landscapes, and integration of livestock grazing into restoration efforts is integral to success.
The Network provides a forum for members to share and receive feedback on implementation plans, patch-burn grazing ideas and strategies, training and education concepts, running a private lands mobile fire crew, and other projects such as volunteer fire department engagement. These efforts require fostering innovation and transferring lessons learned from individual projects to landscape-scale applications, and to scientists and decision-makers who can facilitate the larger-scale changes needed to protect our vital grassland resources.
Demonstration Landscapes
Participating Landscapes
Volunteer Fire Department Resources
In the Iowa Loess Hills, efforts are being made to increase the role of volunteer fire departments in conducting prescribed burns for landowners. Stan Buman of Agren, Inc. recently completed a pilot project involving 10 departments.
Other Resources
Leaders: Susanne Hickey and John Ortmann
Workshop 7 / Ainsworth, NE / 15-17 October 2008
The workshop included discussion of private lands and cooperatives, and there will be a field trip to view local efforts. Ainsworth is in the Sandhills / Middle Niobrara landscape.
Downloads
Workshop 6 / Victoria, TX / 3-6 December 2007
Objectives of this workshop were to:
- develop creative ways to increase on-the-ground fire implementation using existing resources;
- provide peer review of site efforts to restore fire adapted ecosystems;
- learn about the Refugio-Goliad Prairie landscape; and
- Make progress overcoming barriers and working together to develop strategies for success.
Downloads
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