Penn State Ag Sciences Newsline -- April 21, 2009
Controlled wildfires can revive state forests, game lands (:40)
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Suggested Intro:
THE STATE IS USING CONTROLLED BURNS IN COUNTIES ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA AS A TOOL TO MANAGE WILDFIRES. AN EXPERT IN PENN STATE'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES SAYS THE PROGRAM ALSO WILL HELP FOREST REGENERATION. SAM SCHELLER REPORTS:
Story:
(:15) A 95-ACRE BURN IS PLANNED FOR THE SCOTIA BARRENS IN CENTRE COUNTY. THIS PRESCRIBED BURN MAY BE THE FIRST OF MANY ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA. A RECENT CHANGE IN STATE LAWS NOW PERMITS STATE AGENCIES TO CONDUCT CONTROLLED BURNS ON FOREST AND GAME LANDS. PENN STATE FOREST ECOLOGIST MARGOT KAYE SAYS THESE BURNS ARE ECONOMICALLY EFFICIENT FOR LAND MANAGEMENT:
Kaye Actuality:
(:10) "It's a great tool, whether it's to promote regeneration of desirable forests, to improve wildlife habitat…and to reduce fuel accumulation."(:15) THE BURNS WILL REDUCE THE THREAT OF FUTURE WILDFIRES BY REMOVING FLAMMABLE DEBRIS IN A SUPERVISED ENVIRONMENT. IT WILL ALSO ENSURE FLAMES DON'T TRANSFER INTO A CANOPY BURN-WHICH IS MORE EASILY SPREAD AND HARDER TO CONTROL. FROM PENN STATE, I'M SAM SCHELLER.
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