Productive Forests and Rangelands: Replanting And Reforestation For Productive Forests In The Future

This was the third of four webinars in our series focused on science supporting Productive Forests and Rangelands. During this webinar, scientists from the Rocky Mountain Research Station presented their latest research in three short presentations.

Regenmapper: A Web-Based Tool for Assessing Post-Fire Regeneration Potential in the Western U.S.

Presented by Zack Holden, Research Ecologist

Increased wildfire activity and has created a backlog of post-fire reforestation needs across much of the western U.S. Zack discusses recently developed climatic datasets and tools for assessing post-fire regeneration potential, and efforts to help managers prioritize planting site selection given limited resources.

How Post-Fire Regeneration of Jeffrey Pine Relates to Wildfire Severity

Presented by Stephanie Yelenik, Rangeland Scientist

Fires are increasing in size and severity across the Sierra Nevada mountains, yet most research on natural tree regeneration and restoration come from the western slope, which has a milder and more productive climate than the eastern slope. This talk presents the results of surveys of tree regeneration across fires in the eastern Sierra region and discuss how patterns relate to climate, topography, fire severity, and other factors. We also explore relationships between trees and shrubs, which stand to be more mutually beneficial in the harsher climates of the eastern Sierra region.

Planting Trees to Bolster Forest Recovery After Wildfire

Presented by Paula Fornwalt, Research Ecologist

Tree planting has the potential to help forests recover after severe wildfire. Paula provides an overview of recent research that examined how the performance of planted tree seedlings was shaped by a range of factors, including seed lot selection, site selection, and microsite selection. These studies leveraged volumes of Forest Service monitoring records that the research team obtained from managers throughout the Interior West.