Restoration of dry, montane meadows through prescribed fire, vegetation and fuels management: a program of research and adaptive management in western Oregon

Abstract

Mountain meadows in the Pacific Northwest, as in much of western North America, have experienced recent and rapid invasion by conifers. Changes in climate, cessation of sheep grazing, and long-term suppression of wildfire likely contribute to the observed replacement of meadow by forest. Faced by gradual loss of these habitats, land managers in the western Cascades of Oregon are using tree removal and prescribed burning as tools for restoration. However, these efforts have been undertaken with limited understanding of the historical role of fire in these meadow ecosystems, of the range of current vegetation conditions, and of the potential for restoration.

Citation

Swanson, Frederick J.; Halpern, Charles B.; Cissel, John H. 2007. Restoration of dry, montane meadows through prescribed fire, vegetation and fuels management: a program of research and adaptive management in western Oregon. Final Report to the Joint Fire Science Program. Boise, ID. 64 p.