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TALLAHASSEE - In recognition of Prescribed Fire Awareness Week, March
7-13, 2010, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Florida
State Parks reminds citizens and visitors of the importance of prescribed fire,
also known as controlled burning, in preserving, interpreting and restoring
Florida’s natural resources.
“The Florida state park system’s prescribed fire program has made great
strides in the last 75 years,” said Florida Park Service Director Mike Bullock.
“Prescribed fire helps to restore and maintain …the Real FloridaSM that provides
affordable, nature-based recreation to more than 21.4 million visitors
annually.”
Created by the Florida Legislature in 1935, DEP’s Florida Park Service is
charged with maintaining representative samples of the original domain of
Florida for the enjoyment and use of the Florida’s citizens and visitors. The
critical role that fire plays in sustaining many of the earth’s ecosystems is
now widely recognized. Many of Florida’s ecosystems are fire-adapted systems
that require frequent prescribed fire to maintain these natural areas in good
health. Prescribed fire also protects state park neighbors from the threat of
uncontrolled wildfires by reducing potential fuel for wildfires.
Of the Florida Park Service’s 160 parks, 110 require frequent prescribed fire
management and encompass 260,000 of 700,000 total acres managed. Many of these
areas need to be burned as frequently as every two to three years for the health
of the many plants and animals dependent on fire-adapted natural areas.
Throughout 2010, DEP’s Florida State Parks will celebrate 75 years of
recreation and preservation. Florida State Parks will host special activities
and interpretive events from coast to coast, including 25 signature events which
highlight individual parks’ histories, as well as the history of the state park
system as a whole. While taking the opportunity to enjoy recreational activities
at a state park notice the positive effects of the prescribed fire program
underway at many of the parks.
Florida State Parks has grown from eight to 160 parks over the last 75 years.
Today, the Florida Park Service manages more than 700,000 acres of Florida's
natural environment, including 100 miles of beaches, eight National Historic
Landmarks and 39 sites on the National Register of Historic Places. Florida
State Parks has been recognized by the National Recreation and Park Association
as the nation's first and only two-time Gold Medal winner for the nation's best
park service.
For more information on Florida’s state parks, visit
www.FloridaStateParks.org and
follow Florida State Parks on Twitter at
www.Twitter.com/FLStateParks.
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2012 State of Florida