Collier County Wildfire Assessment

In August 2017, Earth Tech Environmental conducted a Wildfire Assessment following the fire that burned through Collier County in late April 2017. Tree mortality, vegetation regrowth, exotic coverage, and wildlife observations were all noted.

            

Photos taken immediately after the fire revealed tremendous devastation to the tree canopy.

However, the same photo(s) captured four months later indicated succession and recovery of the area.

Pine flatwoods are a fire-dependent community in Southwest Florida, adapted for extreme environmental conditions. In most areas, the saw palmetto appeared to be recovering and while an abundance of cabbage palms were affected, not a single one suffered total mortality!

 

Evidence of fresh gopher tortoise burrows was observed, complete with active occupants! Gopher tortoises dig deep burrows- sometimes 40 feet beneath the surface- to stay cool and seek shelter from predators and the natural elements, such as fire.

 

 

It is amazing the resiliency of habitats and organisms when faced with such incredible forces as wildfire. These assessments help us understand how species adapt and overcome in order to create the best land management practices possible to ensure the survivability of the environment.