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nafex - Re: [NAFEX] Controlled burns (probably off topic)

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  • From: Road's End Farm <organic87@frontiernet.net>
  • To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Controlled burns (probably off topic)
  • Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2011 22:29:57 -0500


On Feb 5, 2011, at 9:44 PM, Richard Wagner wrote:

The natives would not have been burning the prairies, especially large areas, as they were not agriculturists.

Actually, there seems to be considerable evidence that deliberate burning was used in much of North America, both by agricultural and non-agricultural societies, for multiple reasons including to encourage the growth of desired plants, whether to feed humans or to feed game. Prairies may have been burned to improve grazing for buffalo.

A few examples discussing this:


http://www.wildlandfire.com/docs/biblio_indianfire.htm

http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/rareplants/conservation/success/camas_prairie_restoration.shtml

http://courses.washington.edu/tande/hw/hwbibs/pickard.htm

http://westinstenv.org/histwl/2008/01/04/native-american-influences-on-the-development-of-forest-ecosystems/



-- Rivka; Finger Lakes NY, Zone 5 mostly
Fresh-market organic produce, small scale







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