Lessons learned from fire use for restoring southwestern ponderosa pine ecosystems

Abstract

Since European settlement, the southwestern ponderosa pine ecosystem has experienced large scale alterations brought about by heavy grazing and timbering and a policy of attempted fire exclusion. These alterations are most evident as large increases in tree numbers and in forest floor organic matter. These changes have resulted in forest health problems, such as increased insect and disease epidemics, reduced wildlife habitat, and a serious wildfire hazard. Prescribed burning used in ecosystem restoration can reduce heavy fuel accumulations, provide adequate microsites for natural pine regenerations, nonselectively thin dense stagnated thickets, and create an edaphic and stand environment conducive to better forest health and productivity. Research reported here indicates the improved forest conditions that result from burning. Conditions that more closely resemble those of presettlement will require other activities in association with fire.

With fire application, it is important to monitor conditions before, during, and after burning in order that positive fire effects can be replicated or adaptations to the prescriptions can be made.

Citation

Sackett, Stephen S.; Haase, Sally M.; Harrington, Michael G. 1996. Lessons learned from fire use for restoring southwestern ponderosa pine ecosystems. In: Covington, W.W.; Wagner, P.K., eds. Conference on adaptive ecosystem restoration and management: restoration of Cordilleran conifer landscapes of North America: June 6-8, 1996, Flagstaff, Arizona. General Technical Report GTR-RM-278. Fort Collins, CO, USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station: 54-61.