Rare, endangered plant life thriving following Pine Barrens fire

But on the ground, species of rare threatened and endangered plant life are thriving thanks to the lack of the overhead foliage, or canopy, the wildfire provided.
Area environmentalist claim that not only was the arrival of these plants expected, but that portions of the Pinelands should be allowed to burn more often - in a controlled setting - to help the plants grow.....Continue Reading

In addition to allowing sunlight in by burning the leaves and branches that create a canopy, the heat of the fire also helps to release nutrients from specific types of soil fungi and pine tree fibers.

"Wildfire created the Pine Barrens. There have been fires here for 10,000 years," New Jersey Conservation Foundation ecologist Emile DeVito said. "It is essential for creating all of the things that make the Pine Barrens special. Not just the rare plants, but the entire Pine Barrens ecosystem."

And the rare plants and wildlife that are now thriving in the ashes-covered landscape of last October's wildfire are the beneficiaries of the Pine Barrens' unique bond of fire."

"It's exhilarating to be able to witness the way nature has worked for the last 10,000 doing all of the things that created the Pine Barrens. We have an ethical responsibility to make sure that in 500 years they're still here," DeVito said. "And if we don't maintain the plant species and wildlife that is important to the Pine Barrens, it will not be the Pine Barrens anymore. All it would be is an uninteresting patch of forest."

Read Press staff writer Rob Spahr's complete story in Monday's edition of The Press.