Evaluating the Use of Prescribed Fire to Rejuvenate Forage Pastures and its Impact on Soil Health
Overview
Status: In Progress
Project Timeline: January 2024 – March 2027
Objectives
Prescribed fire is a management tool that has the potential to improve the health and functioning of degraded pastures, and to remove hazardous fuel build-up and reduce wildfire risk. Prescribed fire is also part of Indigenous practices, often described as cultural burning, in support of food forests and food sovereignty. However, there are also concerns around fire use and potential changes to soil carbon stocks.
This Project will implement a prescribed fire plan on pastures in the Peace Region of British Columbia, an agriculturally diverse and important region in Canada.
WHAT will this project do: Evaluate how forage production and nutrition responds to prescribed fire and grazing practices, along with soil chemical and microbial properties (in particular carbon storage and cycling).
WHERE will it take place: This research will occur at four locations on private and Crown land (such as the Bear Mountain Community Pasture) in both north and south Peace Regions. Each project site will implement a pre-approved prescribed fire plan to follow all steps for safe and lawful burning.
HOW will it be done: Treatments will include burning and grazing, resulting in four comparisons: (1) unburned/ungrazed, (2) unburned/grazed, (3) burned/ungrazed, and (4) burned/grazed. Data will be collected pre-fire, immediately post-fire, and over subsequent years.
WHY is it needed: This research will (a) provide important information to producers seeking pasture rejuvenation through prescribed fire, and (b) generate data to understand the impact of prescribed fire on soil carbon. This information will be essential for ranchers to make informed decisions and potentially improve the adoption and approval process for prescribed fire.
SITE DESCRIPTIONS:
- Bear Mountain Community Pasture, near Arras BC: This site was chosen as it was logged over 20 years ago and now is experiencing aspen suckering and re-growth which is reducing available forage for grazing animals.
- Renee Ardill, near Hudson’s Hope BC: This site was chosen as a pasture with moderate fire history and some brush encroachment. Land steward has longer term experience of using prescribed fire as a pasture management tool.
- Jack Thiessen, near Buick BC (Aitken Creek): This site was chosen as a field with some regular fire history. Land steward has longer term experience of using prescribed fire as a pasture management tool. This site is also of interest to the Blueberry River First Nations.
- Neil Ward, near Halfway River BC: This site is silvopasture site with brush encroachment and accumulation of woody debris build up. The land steward has experience with prescribed fire in management of silvopasture. The site is also adjacent to the Halfway River First Nations.
Progress
2025: Have an interest in Fire Schools (Wildland Fire Training), Prescribed Fire or advertising on our Fire Wagons? Please let us know, by clicking on the following link and selecting the appropriate “Expression of Interest” tickets. This will help us make a good plan for 2025 and keep you informed. peaceforage.bc.ca/event/expression-of-interest-for-fire-related-activities/
2024:
1) Prescribed fire plans approved for 3 sites (Aitken Creek and Ardill Ranch in spring and Halfway Ranch in fall). Bear Mountain site prescribed fire (Rx) postponed. Emergency Reponse Plans (ERP-AitkenCreek2024, ERP-ArdillsRanch2024, ERP-BearMountain2024).
2a) SPRING: Prescribed Fires (Rx) completed on 2 sites.
- 74 acres on Aitken Creek (April 22nd),
- perimeter blacklines on Ardill Ranch (April 19-21st), and
- 36 acre inside burn on Ardill Ranch (May 5th).
2b) SPRING: Grazing exclosures set up in April 2024 for Aitken Creek and Ardill Ranch sites.
2c) SPRING: Soil samples and measurements collected for 3 sites (Aitken Creek, Ardill Ranch and Bear Mountain) on May 5th.
3a) SUMMER: Forage Measurements collected on 3 sites (Aitken Creek, Ardill Ranch and Bear Mountain).
3b) SUMMER: Prescribed Fire Site at Jack Thiessen’s featured as part of AUG Grazing Series (Forest to Pasture Convertion) on Aug 13th.
4a) FALL: Soil and forage measurements to be collected pre-fire and post-fire in fall for Halfway Ranch site.
4b) FALL: Prescribed Fires (Rx) to be completed in fall on 2 sites: Bear Mountain and Halfway Ranch. POSTPONED
Project Cooperators
- Bear Mountain Community Pasture
Arras, BC - Renee Ardill
Hudson's Hope, BC - Jack Thiessen
Aitken Creek Road, Buick, BC - Neil Ward
Halfway Ranch, BC
Project Contacts
- Nadia Mori
PRFA Coordinator
250-263-8802
coordinator@peaceforage.bc.ca - Dr. Sonja E. R. Leverkus PhD RPBio RPF PAg EP
Lead Researcher
(250) 321.7069
sonja@shiftingmosaics.com - Dr. Jillian Bainard
Lead Researcher, AAFC
jillian.bainard@canada.ca