Eighty-eight years of change in a managed ponderosa pine forest

Abstract

This publication gives an overview of structural and other ecological changes associated with forest management and fire suppression since the early 1900's in a ponderosa pine forest, the most widespread forest type in the Western United States. Three sources of information are presented: (1) changes seen in a series of repeat photographs taken between 1909 and 1997 at 13 camera points; (2) knowledge from 19 authors who have investigated effects of recent ecosystem-based management treatments; integrated with (3) findings of forest changes related to earlier treatments and to succession. The contributing authors discuss effects of historical silviculture and recent ecosystem-based management treatments, including an evaluation of various burning prescriptions in terms of tree response, undergrowth, soils, wildlife habitat, and esthetics and public acceptance.

Titles contained within Eighty-eight years of change in a managed ponderosa pine forest

• Introduction
• The setting and historical background
• Natural forest succession and fire history
• Historical silvicultural treatments
• Natural regeneration response to initial treatments
• Interpretations of vegetative change through 1989: The photopoints
• Ecosystem-based management treatments
• Effects of ecosystem-based management treatments
• Relevance of Lick Creek ecosystem-based management treatments to National Forest management
• Concluding remarks

Citation

Smith, Helen Y.; Arno, Stephen F. 1999. Eighty-eight years of change in a managed ponderosa pine forest. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-23. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 55 p.