Making the Case for Prescribed Fire with Tom Dooley

On this episode, we welcome Tom Dooley, the director of forest conservation for The Nature Conservancy's South Carolina chapter. An expert on forest management, Tom illustrates the ecological and social value of forest ecosystems while simultaneously describing the science and history of the South's primary forest management technique: fire. As Tom and Liz discuss controlled burns (also known as prescribed fire), their conversational journey takes them across the U.S., from western wildfires to the impacts of Hurricane Helene to the South Carolina coast. Through Tom's insight, we learn that fire is a useful - and natural - solution to forest management if we take the time to plan and execute it safely and carefully. Learn more about the Sewee Fire Fest on March 15, 2025: The Nature Conservancy: Sewee Fire Fest 2025 The Longleaf Alliance: Sewee Fire Festival -- Conversing with Nature is hosted by Dr. Liz Fly, edited by Nicole Pehl, and produced by The Nature Conservancy. Original music provided by Matt Williams, cover art designed by Amy Nguyen, and funding provided by the Therblig Foundation. To learn more, visit www.naturebasedexchange.org or on Instagram @naturebasedexchange.