Effects of Prescribed Burning on Vegetation and Fuel Loading in Three East Texas State Parks

-This study was conducted to evaluate the initial effectiveness of prescribed burning in the ecological restoration of forests within selected parks in east Texas. Twenty-four permanent plots were installed to monitor fuel loads, overstory, sapling, seedling, shrub and herbaceous layers within bum and control units of Mission Tejas, Tyler and Village Creek state parks. Measurements were taken during the summers of 1999 and 2000. Prescribed burning was conducted between these sampling periods in early spring 2ooo. Results indicated that the current applications of prescribed burning do not significantly influence vegetation or fuels. Sustained drought, prior management practices and imposed local bum bans reduced the window within which prescribed bums could be applied, and limited the effectiveness of the burns. Historically, fire has played an important role in most terrestrial ecosystems. Fire has an influence in such ecosystem components as recycling of nutrients, regulating plant succession and wildlife habitat, maintaining biological diversity, reducing biomass, and controlling insect and disease populations (Mutch 1994). When conducted properly, prescribed fire undoubtedly alters the composition and structure of the understory vegetation within forests. Several subclimax communities and endangered species of Texas are dependent on fire. For example, fire is an essential element in the restoration and management of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) stands and pitcher plant (Sarracenia alata Wood) wetland ecosystems. These and other communities benefit from an active prescribed burning program (Reeves & Corbin 1985). Prescribed burning is currently used as a management tool in several Texas state parks for the purposes of reducing forest fuels, improving wildlife habitat, altering the composition and structure of the understory vegetation and enhancing park appearances. This study was conducted to evaluate the initial effectiveness of prescribed burning in the ecological restoration of forests and consisted of monitoring preand 7 212 THETEXASJOURNALOFSCIENCE-VOL.54,NO.3,2002 post-burn vegetative characteristics and fuel loads at three Texas state parks. At Mission Tejas State Historical Park, Tyler State Park and Village Creek State Park, 24 plots, eight in each park, were monitored in the summers of 1999 and 2000 to determine short-term ecological effects of pre-scribed burning on vegetation and fuel loads.