Controlled burning as an active method of protecting heathlands – methodology of the procedure

A bstract Heathlands in Poland are valuable natural habitats, which have been included in the Natura 2000 network, among others. These communities often occurred on military training grounds. Abandonment of their utilisation and the lack of factors inhibiting the succession of woody vegetation have led to the overgrowth of heathlands, their degradation and loss of biodiversity. Active nature conservation is essential for the preservation of these ecosystems. Traditional methods, such as mowing or grazing, are often inadequate or too expensive. Controlled burning can be used as an effective and cost-efficient alternative to stop succession processes and preserve valuable heathlands. To organise burning properly, the right time for burning must be chosen, taking into account both meteorological and natural conditions. During the burning operations, safety and adequate equipment and qualifications of those carrying out and coordinating the activities are crucial. Environmental monitoring carried out after the burning operations showed a high capacity for vegetative regeneration of heather and no negative impact of the treatment on the biodiversity of flora and fauna associated with the heath habitat.