Fire Ecology Annual Report: Calendar Year 2005 [Everglades National Park]

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A summary of fire ecology activities and program information for the Park/network including fire effects plot workload, staffing, management objectives and monitoring results, and planning, fire monitoring, communications, and research. Also included are staff accomplishments/areas of focus, future program direction and other optional information (e.g. data analysis graphics or presentations, annual highlights, publications, program challenges, unique solutions to problems, collaboration, photographs of monitoring/fire activities, and suggestions on FFI). The Everglades National Park fire monitoring program faced two major challenges in 2005, attrition of two valuable fire effects positions and the persistent effects of numerous tropical storms. With these challenges present, Everglades Fire effects were able to continue to read plots, refine methodology and begin archiving several thousand photo-monitoring slides. New variables were established to capture fire effects upon the host plants of critically rare butterflies within the frequently burned pinelands of Everglades National Park. Our fire effects monitors serve as advisors to the Pine Rockland Working Group, an international, multi-agency effort which has been effective at making recommendations and taking action to protect this imperiled ecosystem. Everglades National Park fire effects personnel have designed photo-monitoring protocols which were adopted by working group members in South Florida and the Bahamas. Fire Ecology staff are key members of the Environmental Assessment process in support of our FMP. Because of their familiarity with fire effects and fire as an ecological process, fire ecology staff has guided fire managers through critical elements of the preparation of this document. In addition Fire Effects monitors have reviewed and made extensive comments on the fire management plan update. Beyond the FMP and EA, fire effects personnel are an important asset to fire operations. They serve, as qualified, on most prescribed fires, wildland fires and hurricane shut-down and clean-up. With the participation of fire ecology staff, operations have enhanced their ecological effectiveness while maintaining a safe fireline environment.

Fire Ecology Annual Report: Calendar Year 2005 [Everglades National Park]

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