St. John’s performs controlled burn to rid invasive species
On a three-year cycle, the St. John's Abbey Arboretum as part of Outdoor U performs a burn to preserve the native species and limit the spread of invasive species, such as buckthorn, knapweed and wormwood sage.
Saint John’s Abbey Arboretum orchestrated a series of controlled burns to preserve the abundant and diverse native species in the area over the past few weeks.
Each area is burned every three years or more frequently if there is an abundance of invasive species. This year, the Arboretum Oak Savanna on the eastern shore of East Gemini Lake underwent a prescribed burn. Minnesota is home to a unique ecosystem where a triad of biomes merge together. Prairies, conifer forests and deciduous forests coexist right here on campus.
The diversity of the land surrounding our campuses is compromised by the presence of invasive species. Buckthorn, knapweed and wormwood sage, all common invasive species in Minnesota, take away from the growth of native plants. Native plants are important to sustain local animal life and to protect the overall health of the environment.
Prescribed burns provide crucial protection to the environment by reducing these invasive species and enabling them to regrow and renew their habitation in the ecosystem. These burns also help remove dead material that has built up and created a risk for accidental fires. Con Brady, a land manager for the Abbey Arboretum, helped facilitate and plan the prescribed burn. He explained the role of prescribed burns on campus.
“[The Arboretum’s] main goal is to help maintain natural and healthy Minnesota ecosystems,” Brady said. “Fire is part of the natural cycle of many native plants in prairies, oak savannas and forests.”
These burns are no simple process. John Geissler, Outdoor U director and Abbey land manager, also provided much needed coordination and planning to ensure that the burns were effective and safe. Before the burns take place, the Abbey Arboretum must obtain a permit from the Minnesota DNR and notify Life Safety of the burns. Next, they break up the land on deck for the burn into more manageable areas. The areas are separated by firebreaks, which provide a sort of blank space to prohibit the fire from catching on other material and spreading.
Before the burn can commence, the weather conditions must also be assessed. Wind speed that is too high, blowing onto the interstate or into residential areas or too low, preventing smoke from clearing, can lead a burn to be postponed. Humidity and rain also determine how successful a burn will be. On the day of the burn, student, faculty, staff, community members and the Saint John’s Fire Department volunteer to make sure the burn goes off safely and smoothly.
The crew is equipped with water backpacks, flappers (which can be used to smother fires) and other tools as well as a fire truck provided by the fire department. Riley Berg, an SJU senior and a station captain for the Saint John’s Fire Department was among those aiding Outdoor U for the burn. Beyond equipment, SJFD provided expertise during the procedure. Far from damaging the ecosystem, prescribed burns help preserve the diversity and beauty of the land.
