Controlled fires, as a method, refer to the deliberate ignition and management of fire under predefined environmental, spatial, and temporal conditions to achieve specific experimental, ecological, or land-management objectives. In research and applied settings, they are implemented using standardized ignition patterns, fuel preparation, and meteorological criteria to manipulate fire intensity, spread rate, and residence time while maintaining safety and reproducibility. Controlled fires enable systematic study of fire behavior, combustion processes, vegetation and soil responses, emissions, and post-fire ecological dynamics, and they often require detailed planning, monitoring instrumentation, and adherence to regulatory and risk-mitigation protocols.
Every year, government workers around Australia start fires in the bush. The idea behind these prescribed burning programs is that removing dry leaves and branches reduces the chance of bigger, more dangerous fires. Over ...
Ecology
Dec 2, 2025
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Researchers from the Institute of Applied Ecology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have revealed the mechanism behind the dieback of natural Mongolian pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) forests on sandy land. ...
Ecology
Dec 1, 2025
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A two-decade-long experiment in the Sierra Nevada found that regular prescribed burns promote carbon sequestration in live trees and plants, maintaining forests' long-term ability to store carbon while also reducing wildfire ...
Ecology
Nov 17, 2025
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There is a conceptual thread connecting Australia and Arizona—the places about which University of Kansas researcher Melinda Adams wrote in two recent scholarly journal articles—and the work she's been doing with the Iowa ...
Ecology
Nov 3, 2025
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Scientists from the Yale School of the Environment discovered that forests in the Everglades bounce back quickly after fires, often surpassing their previous levels of productivity. The research reaffirms the need to continue ...
Ecology
Oct 29, 2025
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New Curtin University research has found the impact of bushfires and prescribed burns on global bee populations is highly varied, with some species benefiting from fire while others face severe risks.
Plants & Animals
Oct 8, 2025
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Indigenous knowledge and Western science are coming together to develop diverse, resilient and just fire restoration practices that support our forests, which are critically important in navigating a warming future with increased ...
Environment
Sep 10, 2025
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A new nationwide database developed by researchers at Northern Arizona University is helping land managers answer a long-standing question: Are fuel treatments actually reducing wildfire risk?
Environment
Sep 10, 2025
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Cultural burning is an Indigenous community-based practice where controlled fire is used to manage landscapes like forests. These work by reducing dried, flammable vegetation in a manageable way.
Earth Sciences
Aug 18, 2025
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As Australia and the world grapple with global warming and increased bushfire risks, University of South Australia ecologists are turning their attention to the impact of prescribed burning on native animals.
Plants & Animals
Jul 24, 2025
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