The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission (APBPC) has prepared a draft Fire Management Plan Update for the Albany Pine Bush Preserve (FMP). The FMP and a white paper detailing the APBPC’s review, are available for download at the bottom of this page, and at the Discovery Center at 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY.

A public information meeting will be held July 18, from 7 – 9 PM at the Discovery Center, 195 New Karner Road. The public comment period on the draft FMP Update opens June 19 and closes at 4:30 PM on July 28, 2023. Comment on the draft FMP Update should be sent to managementplan@albanypinebush.org.

The FMP describes the goals and objectives for restoring ecosystem health and reducing wildfire risk, by implementing an appropriate fire regime consistent with APBPC’s goals. The plan also provides a discussion of operations and logistics, required and guidance weather and fuel parameters, and the potential impacts of smoke. The plan has been prepared in accordance with New York State’s prescribed fire regulations and requirements of the NYSDEC (6NYCRR Chapter II, Part 194 and ECL Article 46) and the policies of the APBPC. The FMP was previously revised in 2002 and 2010.

Since 1991, the APBPC has used mechanical and prescribed fire techniques to reduce hazardous wildland fuels and restore globally-rare inland pine barrens ecological communities within the Albany Pine Bush Preserve.  It has applied prescribed fire to more than 3,400 acres with 2,251 acres burned since 2010. In that time APBPC has learned much about the safe and effective use of prescribed fire to advance ecological and fuel management goals. Improved training, better equipment and expanded partnerships have improved the safety and effectiveness of prescribed fire operations. These improvements have also advanced the recovery of the local endangered Karner blue butterfly metapopulation and the conservation of many other New York State wildlife species of greatest conservation need (SGCN). However, a larger preserve, larger populations of rare species, invasive species and climate change all challenge the APBPC’s ability to meet growing fire management objectives. The FMP was prepared to address these challenges while continuing to avoid, minimize and mitigate potentially adverse impacts of both prescribed and wildfire, especially impacts associated with smoke.