​​​​​​​​

In conjunction with the Florida Forest Service, the Parks Environmental Management Group does prescribed burns in order to maintain fire-dependent plant communitities. Prescribed fire is part of the Park and Recreation's responsibility to manage natural areas to maintain their ecological integrity and function. 

​Thousands of years of fires caused by lightning and humans have shaped the composition of South Florida's plant communities, many of which are fire dependent. Maintaining habitat diversity is important in order to maximize biodiversity in ​our Parks. Fires reduce certain vegetation (depending on environment) and encourage herbaceous growth, which is an important food source to resident fauna, for example the Gopher Tortoise. Biologists hope that fire-adapted native plants, such as the butterfly milkweed, will increase in abundance in burned areas. 

Prescribed fires in urban settins present extra challenges. Winds must carry smoke away from sensitive areas, and notifications need to be sent out to neighbors and agencies. Though there are very real dangers associated with prescribed burns, proper safety measures are taken to mimimize risk. Once the ignition phase is complete and the fire has burned out, a "mop up" phase begins to ensure there is not residual smoke. After a few weeks and some rain, the area will fill up with new shoots and hungry residents!