Won’t letting more sunlight reach the ground create a lot of underbrush?

Yes. The goal is to encourage the right amount of growth at the forest floor, and the right kinds of vegetation. In a Piedmont ecosystem unaltered by humans, low-intensity fires would sweep through every few years. Studies show these fires limited the height and density of ground-level vegetation. Fires happened frequently and kept fuel levels low, and typically remained too close to the ground to ignite the canopy. Many native plants evolved to depend on fire and cannot thrive without it. This project recreates this important aspect of Piedmont forest ecology using carefully supervised prescribed burns where and when appropriate.

Show All Answers

1. Why create a managed forest at Sandy Creek Nature Center?
2. How much of the nature center will be used for the managed forest?
3. Where will the managed forest be located?
4. Will the managed forest be all pine?
5. What is the history of this part of the property?
6. The land is already forested, why not leave it as is?
7. How will the managed forest address these problems?
8. Won’t letting more sunlight reach the ground create a lot of underbrush?
9. Are controlled burns safe?
10. Is clear-cutting part of the managed forest plan?
11. How are the other sites managed?
12. When does work start?
13. Is clearing and thinning the best way to create the managed forest?
14. How will you keep the Nature Center looking attractive?
15. Will the activity affect any rare or endangered species?
16. What will you do to eradicate invasive species?
17. How will you pay for it?
18. Do you have support from the community and forestry experts?
19. Is there an approval process?
20. How can I learn more?