Duluth, Minn, June 30, 2023—A new Story Map by the Superior National Forest titled, “Restoring Oak Blueberry Habitat-Ecological Burning on the Superior National Forest” contains fantastic photos and explanations for readers to understand and learn the processes of landscape-level prescribed burning for habitat restoration, such as for oak blueberry habitat.

The Story Map follows three 2023 prescribed fires completed on the West Zone of the Superior National Forest, describing the prescribed burn objectives, necessary management steps, required resources needed, and final outcomes following the prescribed burns. The Story Map describes how these ecological burn projects help restore fire dependent boreal ecosystems, which are an important management goal of the Superior National Forest to regenerate oak, blueberry, and other fruiting species like juneberry and paper birch (p. 13).

“Understanding forest ecology is key to implementing forest management practices. Returning fire to historical intervals at low intensities is a win for our local communities and for our fire dependent plant and animal species. We can put fire on the landscape at the right time in the right place when conditions are right making us proactive instead of reactive to wildfire”–Nicole Selmer, Prevention Technician and author of the Story Map.

The Story Map is available on the Superior National Forest’s website:

Superior National Forest website or

Restoring Oak Blueberry Habitat (arcgis.com)

For more information on prescribed burning on the Superior National Forest and the USDA Forest Service’s national website for prescribed burning, see:

Superior National Forest's Fire and Aviation Webpage

USDA Forest Service Prescribed Fire Webpage