Prescribed burning is one of the most important tools we have to keep Louisiana’s forests healthy—especially our piney woods.

Longleaf pine forests, which once covered large swaths of the southeastern U.S., evolved with fire. For thousands of years, natural fires and burns set by native communities regularly moved across the landscape, shaping open, resilient woodlands rich in plants and wildlife. When fire is removed, these systems begin to decline.

Take a healthy longleaf pine forest. In this native ecosystem, frequent, low-intensity fire reduces dense undergrowth and invasive species that compete for sunlight, water, and nutrients. This allows native grasses and a diversity of wildflowers to thrive. These plants are not only beautiful; they form the foundation of one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in North America, supporting species such as gopher tortoises, quail, and other species that have been reduced from their historic populations.

Prescribed burns also improve forest resilience. By safely reducing excess fuel on the ground, controlled fire lowers the risk of destructive wildfires that can threaten communities, wildlife, and natural areas. Fire helps recycle nutrients back into the soil, stimulates new plant growth, and maintains the open forest structure that longleaf pine seedlings need to survive.

At Land Trust for Louisiana, we know that when fire is used in restoration practices in a controlled way, natural processes are supported keeps Louisiana’s forests healthy, diverse, and resilient, for today and generations to come.