Alabama depends on The Nature Conservancy to protect its natural treasures, including the aquatic diversity in 18 river systems and along the beaches and marshes of the Gulf Coast. We also depend on the use of prescribed burns as a way to manage and restore our native forests.

According to Keith Tassin, Director of Science and Stewardship for The Nature Conservancy, mountain longleaf pines once dominated areas like Red Mountain, Shades Mountain, Ruffner Mountain and Double Oak Mountain. At Oak Mountain State Park, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has been working over the last several years to reintroduce fire as a way to spark new growth.

We’ve seen in person the results, thanks to a visit to the Roberta Case Pine Hills Preserve near Clanton, one of the spots where fire truck funded by the Community Foundation has been put to use as part of Prescribed Burn Program and restoration work.

So, if you’re counting, here is #10 on our latest list of great things making life better in our community, in this case by using fire in a controlled way to manage our forests.