Intentional burning, usually in forests, prairies, and savannas, in order to maintain desired ecological conditions or prevent major wildfires that could result from accumulated dry, woody debris. Prescribed burning, also called controlled burning, has become a widely recognized component of modern ecosystem management in recent decades as ecologists and managers have recognized the role of fire in natural ecosystems. In practice, though, prescribed burning is still used only on a small portion of public and private lands. In a forest, prescribed burning is usually aimed at removing accumulated fuel—fallen branches, pine needles, and other dry debris. In a prairie or savanna environment, prescribed burns may be used to prevent encroachment of trees, to reduce populations of nonnative grassland species, and to enhance the health of native grassland vegetation that is adapted to periodic fires.

The principle of prescribed burning is that fire is a normal...