Managing rare plant populations with fire in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Previous to 1996, wildland fires were effectively excluded from Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) for over 60 years. The National Park Service now recognizes the importance of fire as a natural disturbance and considers fire a critical disturbance factor in GSMNP. A Management Ignited Prescribed Fire Program, part of the Park's Fire Management Plan, was created to address some resource management objectives. Prescribed fire is now being used as a tool to enhance natural resources such as rare plant populations. Four rare plant species have been managed by prescribed fire since 1997 and all populations have responded with increased plant numbers and vigor. Based upon our success, two additional species are scheduled for management by prescribed fire in 2000.