Barrens may benefit from increased wildfire activity due to climate change.

In northern Michigan, barrens are typically maintained by management activities, prescribed fire, or wildfire. Conditions that promote wildfires are generally projected to become more common in northern Michigan by the end of the century. Fire suppression has contributed to woody encroachment and an increased presence of invasive species in many barrens systems. Therefore, barrens could benefit if climate change increases the frequency or severity of wildfire in xeric areas across the assessment area. Too much fire, however, could result in conversion to open grassland systems. Also, climate change could pose an additional threat if the window to apply prescribed fires is reduced.