Camp Ondessonk, a summer camp in Southern Illinois, is taking a proactive approach toward conservation by planning a prescribed burn of roughly 50 acres of forest.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and other organizations will use the carefully controlled management tool to preserve ecosystems of the Shawnee National Forest.
Prescribed burns maintain healthy ecosystems by reducing wildfire risk by removing excess dry vegetation and promoting biodiversity by encouraging growth of native plants.
They also work to restore wildlife habitats like oak and glade ecosystems while combating invasive species that threaten the balance of the forest.
The USDA Forest Service says that the burn will occur between March 10 and March 31, with an advanced notice provided.
