Greenwood Fire Hike

Greenwood Fire Hike
August 12th, 11am-2pm
Meet at highway 1 and 2 intersection parking lot

Regular small wildfires were once common in the North Woods. The native plant life developed specialized adaptations to not only survive these fires but depend on them to thrive. The Anishinaabeg once used wildfire as a tool to renew the forest and promote biodiversity, ensuring the plants they depended on were healthy. Since the arrival of the settlers, these natural fires have been artificially reduced. Now we are seeing the aftermath of over a hundred years of wildfire suppression.

The recent Greenwood Fire started on August 15th 2021. The lighting caused fire would grow to burn over 25,000 acres, destroying homes, cabins and wildlife habitat. It has been nearly two years now and many areas have begun to regrow with startling success, but others will remain scarred for years to come.

Join us on an adventure to see first hand how nature responds to such an intense event. We will discuss fire adapted plant communities, forest succession and the role humans play in wildfires. 

To sign-up, email kes@friends-bwca.org.