[Pasadena, NL]—A 240-hectare area of forest about 20 kilometres southeast of Pasadena (Newfoundland & Labrador) will undergo a scheduled burn by the Department of Natural Resources Thursday (July 22).
The prescribed burn is set out to prepare the site for planting as well as eliminate the threat of adelgid, a naturally occurring forest insect which limits tree growth.
Adam Anderson is co-owner of Anderson and Yates Forest Consultants Inc. of Corner Brook which provides forest and vegetation management services. He said a burn such as Thursday’s is enforced to control the unwanted vegetation and pests that affect the trees.
“Basically they’re burned to control the insect. A lot of the time it’s to burn a lot of slash left onsite after harvesting, stumps and things like that. So basically it prepares the site for planting and eliminates the competition for trees seedlings as well,” said Anderson.
He said when an area of forest is burned this time of year, it will be planted next spring.
“The ground just sits there. Usually they burn in the fall and usually the quickest time you can get in there is the spring. After it burns, not much happens but you get back there in the spring before the vegetation starts to grow back again and get the trees in the ground as soon as the ground thaws,” he said.
The area scheduled for Thursday’s burn is known as Thirty First Brook and is located adjacent to Grand Lake. The department is conducting the burn as part of a silviculture management activity. The burn is expected to take one to two days to complete.
The burn may be postponed if weather and wind conditions are not favourable Thursday.
The Western Star
