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UPCOMING EVENTS!Eastern Range School - August 12-14Western Range School - August 19-212008 Draft Range School Agendas
KGLC Hosts Prescribed Burning CouncilKick-Off Meeting
The purpose of
the meeting
was to explore and discuss the possible formation of a statewide Prescribed
Burn Council (PBC). The meeting was held May 13 at the Hutchinson Public
Library, Hutchinson. Forty-one
people attended and contributed to the discussion.
Tim Christian, KGLC coordinator, provided a brief history and
explanation of the Tall Grass Legacy Alliance’s (TLA) role and interest in
the formation of a PBC to ensure that prescribed burning remains a tool for
management of the Tallgrass Prairie. He explained that the KGLC’s role was
only to initiate the meeting and facilitate the discussion of the formation
of a PBC. And, that if the
group present decided and agreed to form a PBC, they would select a
leadership group and pursue the organization of a Kansas PBC.
The KGLC would then play the role of a supportive organization. The purpose of
the PBC
would be to serve as an advocacy group for ensuring that prescribed burning,
fire, would continue to be a management tool that Kansas landowners can use
to maintain the prairie ecosystem. The PBC would generally be committed to
protecting the right of landowners to burn, encouraging the safe use of
fire, and promoting public understanding and acceptance of prescribed
burning. In addition to ensuring Kansas interests in preserving prescribed
burning, the Kansas Prescribed Burn Council could or might choose to become
a member of the National Coalition of PBC’s which provides coordination
and information to member states on prescribed burning interests, education,
and information at the national level. Everyone
attending generally thought there were positive benefits in forming a PBC
and were interested in seeing the formation of a Kansas PBC. The main ideas
expressed by the group were: ·
Maintaining
the right of landowners to use prescribed fire as a management tool ·
Ensuring
the use of prescribed fire to maintain the prairie ecosystem ·
Fire
Safety ·
Education
and Outreach to gain public understanding and acceptance ·
Smoke
Management ·
Liability ·
Kansas
Regulations ·
Coordination
of Prescribed Burning Interests ·
Networking ·
Communication
Jeff
Davidson, KSU Extension County Agent (Eureka) and TLA Coordinator, gave a
PowerPoint presentation on the role of PBC’s. Berend
Koops, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, discussed legal issues and
landowner responsibilities as they related to prescribed burns. There
was a discussion of legal issues and much discussion of past history of
burning issues in Kansas by the group.
Kansas regulations, Landowner Liability, Smoke Management, Fire
safety, and prescribed burning responsibilities were the main topics of
discussion. Christian
summarized the group’s comments and positive feelings on the formation and
organization of a Kansas PBC and suggested that a “Leadership Team” be
named to carry forward and organize a Kansas PBC. Those
named and who were in agreement to serve on the PBC Leadership Team were:
The
PBC Leadership Team was given the charge to set an agenda, date, and
location for a PBC organizational meeting within the next 60 calendar days
and communicate that information to those present at today’s meeting. Click the links below for the latest issue of thePrairie Pen & the latest Minutes fromthe Tallgrass Legacy Alliance |
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