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Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School has partnered with the Georgia Forestry Commission and local fire services to plan a prescribed burn on campus that will help manage the health and safety of the school’s forests.
The burn will take place on campus property near Indian Lake in the next 7-10 days, and there may be an increased level of smoke in the Rabun Gap area.
A prescribed burn, according to the Georgia Forestry Commission, “is a fire that is deliberately set for specific purposes by trained practitioners.”
These fires are safe and beneficial. They reduce the risk of unplanned fires and use natural methods to promote the health of the land.
A planned burn will eliminate stockpiled “fuel” in a forest, fuel that if left unchecked could cause dangerous, out of control wildfires.
After the flames die, underbrush is cleared and nutrients get recycled back into the soil, promoting the growth of trees and wildflowers.
The state of Georgia is leading the way for prescribed fires with 1.4 million acres burned per year.
Over the course of this burn, Rabun Gap’s Biology 2 classes are studying the effects of fires on the ecosystem.
Having already collected data on the soil, water, air, and both plant and animal life, they understand the current state of the ecosystem. After the fire takes place, they will continue to study this area, collecting further data on the health of the forest.
Through comparison and the scientific process, they will complete projects on the benefits and disadvantages of prescribed burns.
“Land stewardship will continue to be part of the Rabun Gap mission,” said Woody Malot, Rabun Gap’s Director of Sustainability. “The burn scheduled for this spring is one step in the right direction. A legacy of sustainability is of the utmost importance for the school. Management like this blazes a path towards a safer, healthier campus ecosystem.”
Founded in 1903, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School is one of the nation’s top boarding and day schools serving students in PreK-12th grade. Home to 680 students from 50+ different countries, Rabun Gap prepares young people for college, career, and a lifetime of leadership and service. Find us online at www.rabungap.org.