Controlled Burn,

Near Owensboro, Wilcox County, Georgia, 2006.

c. Brian Brown

Controlled, or prescribed burning, is a common practice throughout South Georgia. It is a forestry technique which allows the elimination of problematic weeds and other plants, while stimulating the germination of more desirable species. Fire is a normal and vital element in the health of any forest, and when it sometimes does not occur due to any number of variables, controlled burns are implemented.

LINK

http://talltimbers.org/ Tall Timbers Research Station in Tallahassee, Florida, is at the cutting edge of research on this subject, and while their website is a bit technical, it's fascinating. Just click on the Fire Ecology link on their homepage.