Friday, February 27, 2015

February 2015

Welcome to my photoblog on: 
Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center



My name is James. I am a senior at South Johnston High School in Benson, NC.
I love the outdoors and plan to attend college majoring in environmental science or biotechnology. I'm not positive as to my major as of this moment, but conservation is also high on my list. We inherited a pristine planet. It is my hope that we leave our planet clean, healthy and rich with resources for future generations. Please consider voting for politicians that are environmentally conscious.

I want to take this opportunity thank all of you that have visited my blog throughout the year. I hope you have found at least part of the info I've posted to be helpful. I am always open to suggestions and comments. Thank you to those who have reached out to me with suggestions over this last year. I appreciate it. Keep the suggestions coming.

Thank you as well to everyone that has liked my facebook fan page for Howell Woods. Likes are a good way for me to track if my posts are reaching folks.

 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Photoblog-By-James-Howell-Woods/233829593470397

Thank you most of all to everyone at Howell Woods, for sharing your time, your knowledge and information with me. Jordan, Steve, Mike, Peyton and Brittany, you guys are great. Thank you. This volunteering experience has helped to confirm that I am on the right career path. I hope to continue volunteering as long as you'll have me.

"Have a great day, spend it outdoors!"
James

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To learn more about Howell Woods, please see my previous posts for info, photos, and videos. If you've never been to Howell Woods I hope this blog will peak your interest enough that you will visit. It is a treasure located in Johnston County and one of my favorite places.


 



To visit the Howell Woods website, click on the link below of contact Director, Jordan Astoske.


http://www.johnstoncc.edu/howellwoods/


Jordan Astoske
Director of Howell Woods
jtastoske@johnstoncc.edu
(919) 938-0115 ext. 221  

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 February 2015

 For this month, I am posting about the ecological benefits of prescribed burning.


 "A prescribed burn, or an intentional burning of vegetation under strict and specific circumstances, helps restore and maintain wildlife habitat." -NCWildlife

 Pine trees are specially adapted to not only survive fires, but to thrive from them.
 A pine tree's branches each have a terminal bud on the end which is surrounded by needles. 
The needles are present to protect the bud from fire.  When there is a burn, the needles take the heat, keeping the bud unharmed and the tree alive.


 The burning of the underbrush rids the forest of nuisance weeds and insects.  It has been found that tick populations are lower in areas that are burned.  The burn also results in nutrient rich ashes that nurture sprouts and the trees that stand among them.

 
Without periodical burns, vegetation builds up and becomes fuel that can can make a fire very destructive.  Burns taking place keep vegetation managed and reduce the risk of damage and pollution to people and property.
 
Without fire, the growth of vegetation becomes dense and invades other ecosystems, thus destroys habitats for wildlife.
Fire is also very good for controlling invasive species.  It preserves species diversity of an ecosystem by driving out organisms that would otherwise out compete native wildlife.


Burns are quicker, less expensive, and less harmful than machines, pesticides, and herbicides that would be used if fires did not happen.










 Below are some links for more information about controlled burns.



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