Editors: This April 2nd press release was issued by the state of Georgia's Department of Natural Resources -- Wildlife Resources Division. The mission of the Interagency Burn Team (IBT) mission is to assist recovery of rare species and restoration of through controlled burns. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Georgia Ecological Services) provides $30,000 annually ($90,000 total) to help fund the IBT.

Contacts for Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Raymond Carnley, Sr., Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Public Relations and Information Specialist, 770 761-1697
Lisa Doty, Public Affairs Coordinator, 770 918-6400

Additional contact information is at bottom of release.

"Although using fire for rare species can be challenging, burning is an extremely effective tool when used under the proper conditions," said WRD Biologist Shan Cammack. "Many woodlands such as the Coosa Valley Prairies depend on frequent fire to maintain their biological richness and ecosystem health."

Cammack heads up WRD's activities with the Interagency Burn Team (IBT). Overseen by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), IBT is a public-private cooperative of highly trained personnel who work throughout the state to conduct prescribed burns on lands that need fire to benefit rare species. The IBT is staffed from various organizations including WRD and The Nature Conservancy.

Temple-Inland owns the core of this diverse grassland community located in Floyd County, known as the Coosa Valley Prairies. A conservation easement was placed on 929 acres of the property in 2002, ensuring permanent protection of the site. The working forest conservation easement is held by The Nature Conservancy and demonstrates that biodiversity protection is compatible with forestry. This property contains critically imperiled remnant prairies that provide habitat for rare plants and animals including the federally protected herb Mohr's Barbara Buttons (Marshallii mohrii) and the federal candidate Whorled Sunflower (Helianthus verticilatis) as well as the rare Bachman's Sparrow (Aimophila aestivalis).

"Conditions for the Mohr's Barbara Buttons and the Whorled Sunflower were seriously suppressed by dense shading until this important burn," said Sam Breyfogle, Manager of Non-Timber Resources for Temple-Inland's eastern forest. "As a Forestry for Wildlife Partner with the Division, we were excited about the opportunity to work with WRD and the IBT on this project. Their expertise and manpower in prescribed burning made the difference between applying fire in habitat sorely in need of rehabilitation or having to delay the burn, which would have further threatened habitat viability. WRD is truly an effective partner."

WRD has recognized Temple-Inland as a partner in the Forestry for Wildlife Program (FWP) for the past three years. FWP is a voluntary, annual program that promotes blending wildlife conservation into corporate forest practices. There are a variety of wildlife enhancement choices from which corporate forest landowners can build that is compatible with the partnership program. To become a FWP partner, companies must consistently perform management activities that are beneficial to wildlife and that go above and beyond current regulatory and industry standards.

WRD regularly uses controlled burns as a tool for managing wildlife and habitats. Fire is essential in restoring and maintaining a number of rare ecosystems in Georgia. Prescribed burning is an important technique used by wildlife and forest managers to stimulate the growth of grasses and forbs, control the growth of small trees and shrubs, improve access, provide habitat for threatened and endangered species, enhance populations of fire-dependent plants and animals, and reduce fuel levels that can contribute to dangerous wildfires.

Many wildlife and plant species benefit from a prescribed burn. After a burn, small hardwoods sprout, providing forage for deer and other wildlife and small woody stems grow back with vigor, often providing improved fruit production. Quail and songbirds also benefit because prescribed burns increase insect and legume abundance and enhance nesting cover.

Temple-Inland produces a variety of building products including lumber, particleboard, medium density fiberboard (MDF), gypsum wallboard and fiberboard. Temple-Inland operates throughout the United States and Mexico and manages 2.1 million acres of forestland, which are primarily located in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and Georgia.

For more information on Temple-Inland, contact Sam Breyfogle at 706-845-7235. For more information on prescribed burning and the IBT, contact Jimmy Rickards (FWS) at 706-613-9493, ext. 0. For more information on FWP, contact Nathan Klaus (WRD) at 478-994-1438.