The Fire Starters
Audubon magazine, 2023
The longleaf pine ecosystem is one of the most biodiverse in North America. It once stretched from Virginia to Texas, but by the end of the 20th century, 95% of the habitat was gone. A key reason for this was fire suppression. Longleaf pine—the tree and the ecosystem—depend on frequent fire. Without it, the forests become overcrowded and their biodiversity diminishes.
Today, there is a movement to restore longleaf habitat, in large part through the reintroduction of prescribed fire. Although there has been progress, a lack of trained firefighters limits it. Increasing the number of women and private landowners trained in prescribed fire is an important priority for the movement.
In 2023, I was assigned to photograph a feature story for Audubon magazine about this topic. The article was printed in the summer 2023 magazine issue, published onlinem and awarded a second honorable mention in the 2024 Society of Environmental Journalists Awards, due largely to the writer’s excellent reporting.
