attractions : Boyd Hill Nature Preserve  Updated:
3/20/08
Boyd Hill Nature Preserve
Stewardship
No prescribed burns scheduled at this time.
The prescribed burn program at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve is a safe, controlled way to help the parks natural environment. Several times a year, park staff may conduct a prescribed burn in specific areas within the park. Prescribed burning reduces the risk of wildfire by consuming the natural build-up of dead vegetation.
Additional benefits include natural pine regeneration, new growth of nutritious plants for wildlife to eat, recycling of nutrients into the soil (ash), control of invasive exotic plants (such as Brazilian Pepper), control of vines and hardwoods in pineland scrub habitat, reduction in the cost of mowing and manual land maintenance, and improvement of the appearance of the landscape.The date chosen for a prescribed burn depends on the weather forecast a day or two in advance.
Weather is crucial in determining that the burn be conducted under the safest conditions possible and to plan for proper smoke dispersion. The Florida Division of Forestry, St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue and Boyd Hill Nature Preserve staff supervise and conduct the burn. Notification is sent to the media a day or two prior. If the weather forecast is considered unfavorable, the burn can be rescheduled and the media will be notified.
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