What were the damages? • We are still assessing the long-term impact, but believe the damage to the ecosystem and the structure (present and future) of the soils was significant.
What is the impact of fire in Catalina’s wildlands? • Natural fires on Catalina are very rare. Of the 299 fires recorded on the Island in the last 100 years, only six were caused by natural events, like lightning. • Catalina’s flora evolved with occasional fires. Seeds germinate from the seed bank in the soil and most trees and shrubs re-sprout from their bases. • There are also several unique “fire follower” species — plants that thrive within the nutrient-rich and low-competition conditions that follow a fire. Some of the more widely known fire-follower species that are native to the Island are Whispering bells, Fire poppies, and the Catalina manzanita. Some have said that fire is actually good for the ecosystem on Catalina… • Actually, there were great losses from this fire, for example large stands of old oaks, numerous ironwood groves, and many mature and beautiful Catalina manzanita, to name a few that were burned.
Related Questions
- What were the damages? • We are still assessing the long-term impact, but believe the damage to the ecosystem and the structure (present and future) of the soils was significant.
- What is the definition of ecosystem sustainability? What steps are required to insure ecosystem sustainability in the future?
- What are some future industry trends that may impact NATHO’s long-term goals?
