The role of dendrochronology in natural resource management

Malcolm Hughes; Ramzi Touchan

Treesearch

The role of dendrochronology in natural resource management

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Malcolm Hughes, Ramzi Touchan

Year:

2000

Type:

Proceedings

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

In: Ffolliott, Peter F.; Baker Jr., Malchus B.; Edminster, Carleton B.; Dillon, Madelyn C.; Mora, Karen L., tech. coords. Land Stewardship in the 21st Century: The Contributions of Watershed Management; 2000 March 13-16; Tucson, AZ. Proc. RMRS-P-13. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 277-281.

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Abstract

The discipline of dendrochronology, that is, development and use of time series of annual growth rings of trees, is a set of techniques by which the annual growth layers of trees may be assigned to definite calendar years. The history of changes in the trees’ environment may be reconstructed using various properties of tree rings. In this paper we will discuss how tree- ring measurement series can be used to reconstruct past river flow, precipitation, and forest fires over time spans of several centuries and occasionally over millennia. With an understanding of these variables, land and water resource managers will be able to reduce the risk of failure in planning.

Parent Publication

Land Stewardship in the 21st Century: The Contributions of Watershed Management; 2000 March 13-16; Tucson, AZ

Keywords

land stewardship, watershed management, ecosystem-based management, natural resources, conservation, sustainable development, sustainable use

Citation

Touchan, Ramzi; Hughes, Malcolm. 2000. The role of dendrochronology in natural resource management. In: Ffolliott, Peter F.; Baker Jr., Malchus B.; Edminster, Carleton B.; Dillon, Madelyn C.; Mora, Karen L., tech. coords. Land Stewardship in the 21st Century: The Contributions of Watershed Management; 2000 March 13-16; Tucson, AZ. Proc. RMRS-P-13. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 277-281.