Making the case for fire in southern Illinois forests

Fire's importance in the development and maintenance of oak forests has been well established across much of the eastern deciduous biome. Twentieth century fire suppression has resulted in decreased oak regeneration and portends the loss of keystone species across many landscapes including the Ozark and Shawnee Hills of southern Illinois. Here, cultural burning and harvesting fostered consistent oak recruitment until the 1950s when cutting declined and fires were widely suppressed. Now, many mature oak stands are in jeopardy of being replaced en masse by mesophytic species. We review evidence for fire as an ecosystem process and discuss an emerging strategy for the widespread reintegration of fire management across the midwestern landscape against the backdrop of media-driven public perceptions. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]