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• Publicity is necessary for every prescribed burn. Informing the local newspaper and fire department chief as well as local residents should be done well in advance of the burn and again on the day of the burn.

• Education and information should always be made available to the general public about the purpose and benefits of using prescribed burns as a maintenance technique for prairie and wetland management.

• Contact information should be readily available with names and phone numbers of persons in charge as well as local fire department numbers should questions arise.

Endangered, Threatened, Potentially Threatened and Vulnerable Species

Dublin’s natural areas contain plants that are considered endangered, threatened, potentially threatened and vulnerable. Manipulation of ecological diversity is possible through a management plan of protecting these species.

Parks staff uses the floristic quality assessment

index (FQAI) and floristic assessments to eliminate subjectivity about what are considered endangered, threatened and potentially threatened species. A good knowledge of nomenclature and identification skills is needed to designate species that are very difficult to identify due to similarity with other species.

Misidentification easily can and does occur, even with experienced professionals. Therefore, as part of an ongoing maintenance plan, park staff monitors, identifies and protects known threatened and potentially threatened plants and animals as identified by Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Caution should be exercised in the release of information regarding the plant communities. If a species is identified and sought out by humans, disappearance of plants can and will happen.

Some species may end up being poached and kept for personal gain, such as selling of a rare species or hoarding for private collections. Some species may be trampled on as a closer look is taken. Revealing the locations of endangered, threatened or potentially threatened species to the public can have a negative effect on these rare species.