Rio Grande Valley Broadband • Entered by Susan Ostlie on March 30, 2021
Ponderosa Pine Forest Regeneration following wildfires webinar
March 17, 2021
Participants and Hours
| Pre Planning hours | |
| Post Admin hours | 1 |
| Activity Hours | 1 |
| Participants | 1 |
| Total Hours | 2 |
Key Issue: Public Lands Health & Protection
Activity Type: Trainings (WALTS, CAREs/GLOWs, research, conferences, workshops, etc.)
Key Partners: USFS – Rocky Mt. Research Station,
Short Description of Activity
Ponderosa pine forests of the western United States have been experiencing an increase in wildfire activity in recent decades, highlighting a need to understand how they will regenerate post-fire. We synthesize results from a recent project that examined post-fire tree regeneration in ponderosa pine forests of Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota, and how regeneration was affected by a wide range of abiotic and biotic factors. Our results should help managers better predict post-fire regeneration outcomes for recent and future wildfires and better prioritize post-fire management investments to achieve the greatest payoff.
Reflection/Evaluation
I think the last few words of their explanation of the webinar are revealing – ” better prioritize post-fire management investments to achieve the greatest payoff” says it all – The payoff in terms of management is prioritized over the loss of wildlife habitat and diversity. This can be seen right now in Oregon, where they are planning to log Ponderosa Pine burned areas, including snags and standing dead, which does not allow for soil enrichment and wildlife habitat, and exacerbates erosion and carbon release. I think we will have to keep an intense eye on the CFLRP for Southern CO and Northern NM forests to be sure that this approach is not how restoration and controlled burns are managed!