Date: June 25, 2019
Source: University of Missouri-Columbia
Millions
of acres of pine woodlands once covered a large portion of the Midwest. But as
humans logged these trees and suppressed natural fires, the woodlands gave way
to dense forests with thick leaf litter and tree species that were less
fire-resistant, leading to more intense and unpredictable fires as well as the
loss of native bird habitats.
Now,
researchers from the University of Missouri have shown in a new study that
restoration of pine woodlands, through the combined use of intentional, managed
fires and strategic thinning of tree density, has a strikingly beneficial
effect on a diverse array of birds, some of which are facing sharp declines
from human-driven impacts like climate change and habitat loss.
No comments:
Post a Comment