Leading the Way with Fire

“It’s a really cool example of a place where we can showcase how prescribed fire works as a management tool,” says Maia Larson, fire manager for TNC in Arkansas. “After decades of managing that landscape, we’re seeing our restoration goals become reality.”

The achievement reflects decades of collaboration among TNC, the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission and other conservation partners. Through consistent prescribed fire, land managers have restored natural ecological processes, improved habitat conditions and strengthened native plant communities. Today, Warren Prairie stands as one of Arkansas’ leading restoration success stories.

Its impact reaches beyond a single site. Prescribed fire has played a critical role in restoring and maintaining habitat for species such as the red-cockaded woodpecker, whose recovery recently led to its reclassification from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act, a major national conservation milestone. Arkansas’ long-term stewardship and restoration efforts have been an important part of that success.

For Larson, Warren Prairie illustrates the broader impact of prescribed fire across the state. She oversees TNC Arkansas’ statewide fire program, guiding strategy, partnerships and field operations. While prescribed burns may last only a day, planning them is a year-round effort.