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Things are Heating Up: How the newly formed Prescribed Fire Councils and Eastern Shore Prescribed Burn Association will advocate for safe and responsible conservation fire practices across the Delmarva
Article by: Ken Oland, ESPBA Member & Kyle Magdziuk, Tall Timbers
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Nationally, we are in the midst of a cultural shift from one of fire exclusion to the safe application of prescribed fire. To promote this change and accomplish the goal of mitigating wildfire risk and improving wildlife habitat, the need for stakeholders’ cooperation is more important than it ever has been. Locally on the Delmarva Peninsula, the effort is in full swing.
Delaware Prescribed Fire Council
This past spring, a steering committee consisting of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Division of Parks and Recreation, DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife, Delaware Wild Lands, Delaware Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Delaware Nature Society, Mt. Cuba Center, The Nature Conservancy, Tall Timbers, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service came together to establish the Delaware Prescribed Fire Council. Its mission is to protect and promote the Delaware prescribed fire communities’ right to responsibly utilize prescribed fire; and to exchange information, techniques and experiences as well as promote the public understanding of the importance and benefits of prescribed fire as a natural resource management tool. This upcoming January, Delaware’s fire council will be hosting a small Learn & Burn outreach event.
Maryland Prescribed Fire Council
This past summer, The Nature Conservancy led the way to establish the Maryland Prescribed Fire Council with partners from Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD DNR) Wildlife and Natural Heritage Program, MD DNR Forest Service, MD DNR Park Service, Nature Works LLC., The Nature Conservancy, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Quail Forever, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), University of Maryland Cooperative Extension, Tall Timbers, the Accokeek Foundation, and Washington College. Its establishment has initiated its mission to protect, promote, and expand the safe and responsible use of prescribed fire in Maryland; foster the exchange of information, techniques, and experiences of the Maryland prescribed fire community, and increase public understanding of the importance and benefits of prescribed fire. Be on the lookout for upcoming news and information from our Prescribed Fire Council.
Eastern Shore Prescribed Burn Association (ESPBA)
Specifically, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Tall Timbers has spearheaded the formation of the Eastern Shore Prescribed Burn Association (ESPBA), where its mission, like the Maryland Prescribed Fire Council, is to promote safe and responsible prescribed fire practices, share management knowledge, resources, and support, while motivating our community to enhance ecological diversity and foster sustainable landscapes for future generations. Uniquely, the Maryland Prescribed Fire Council and the ESPBA will work in conjunction with one another to streamline burn plan application procedures, burn reporting processes, provide outreach to ease the hesitations surrounding fire and smoke, and host trainings to ensure the responsible use of prescribed fire. Both the Prescribed Fire Council and ESPBA are actively looking for individuals interested in pursuing the safe application of prescribed fire on their landscape and assisting in the promotion of this tool to others where appropriate. Please reach out to Chase McLean (Email chase.mclean@tnc.org), Conservation Steward with the Nature Conservancy, and Kyle Magdziuk (Phone 315-532-2008 Email kmagdziuk@talltimbers.org), Prescribed Fire Coordinator and Game Bird Biologist with Tall Timbers, to find out how you can get involved.
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Coastal Wetland Guidance Document from NOAA and
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Highlights Common Ground and Approaches in the Mid-Atlantic
| Fringing marsh and shallow waters provide a mix of productive habitats in Talbot County, Maryland (credit: J. Watson/ NOAA Fisheries) | |
Over the past year, NOAA Fisheries Habitat and Ecosystem Services Division worked with NOAA’s Centers for Coastal and Ocean Sciences (NCCOS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to develop a white paper that highlights the benefits of a holistic vision for tidal wetland restoration in the mid-Atlantic region. In recent years, several projects have been undertaken in our region that are primarily focused on benefits to particular species (e.g., high marsh nesting birds) with potential adverse effects to productive fisheries habitat, including low marsh and submerged aquatic vegetation beds. We worked collaboratively to highlight the value of projects that consider the functions of existing habitats along with potential sources of impairment during project development. We also emphasize the broad acceptability of projects that intend to provide a wide array of benefits for both fish and wildlife in their restoration goals and are accompanied by robust monitoring and adaptive management plans to ensure those goals are met. Through this collaboration, we hope to foster projects that will benefit our collective trust resources and, as a result, experience a more streamlined permitting process. We also developed a web story and hosted a webinar to ensure a broad readership among practitioners and interested members of the public.
Read the guidance document
For more information, please contact Jonathan Watson (Jonathan.Watson@noaa.gov) in the Annapolis Field Office,
Dr. Bart Wilson (bartholomew_wilson@fws.gov),
and/or Dr. Mo Correll (maureen_correll@fws.gov).
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Request for Proposals: Videography, Animations, Infographics, & Digital Assets for Conservation Education | |
ESLC seeks qualified videographers, artists, graphic designers, and communications experts to help develop and promote accessible educational content in the form of digital assets like explainer videos, animations, infographics, story maps, illustrations, interactive website components, and/or social media posts. More than one contractor may be selected for this project.
View RFP
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Events, Workshops and Conferences | |
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Coastal GeoTools Conference
Those interested in the effective use of data, tools, and training to address coastal issues and inform policy should consider attending the Coastal GeoTools conference on January 27 to 30, 2025, in Wilmington, North Carolina. This one-of-a-kind, long-standing conference attracts the best from around the coastal zone. This year's theme is “Enhancing Resilience Through Relationships, Information, and Technology.”
Learn More
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"I Bird I Vote" Conservation Summit
Audubon Mid-Atlantic invites you to attend Maryland’s annual "I Bird I Vote" Conservation Summit on Saturday, February 1, 2025 from 9:00am to 3:00pm at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation headquarters in Annapolis, MD.
This day of conservation and conversation will provide you with opportunities to learn how to advocate for Maryland’s birds and the places they need to survive. National Audubon staff will address what a new administration means for conservation in Maryland, our Coasts team will provide details about Marshes for Tomorrow and other exciting projects in the region, and leaders from statewide environmental organizations will discuss the landscape of renewable energy in Maryland and beyond.
Registration is $30 per person, and will include coffee, snacks, lunch, and admission to all sessions. If you have questions, please email Tess Wilson at tess.wilson@audubon.org.
Register Here
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SAVE THE DATE: Town and Urban Committee "Eastern Shore Coffee Hours"
Topic: Harmonizing Comprehensive Plans and Zoning: Creating Thriving, Sustainable Communities
Date: February 12th
Time: 11 - 12 am
Location: TBD
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About the Delmarva Restoration and Conservation Network (DRCN) | |
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The Delmarva Restoration and Conservation Network (DRCN), formed in 2017, is a collaborative of local, state, and Federal government agencies and NGOs working with private and public landowners and local governments to identify the most important places to protect and restore, and to obtain support and funding for voluntary restoration and conservation.
The DRCN Mission is to restore and conserve Delmarva’s landscapes, waterways, and shorelines that are special to its people, fundamental to its economy, and vital for its native fish, wildlife, and plants.
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Email submissions to delmarvarcn@gmail.com
| Delmarva Restoration & Conservation Network | delmarvarcn.org | | | | |
