Research Database
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Efficacy of resource objective wildfires for restoration of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests in northern Arizona
Year: 2017
Current conditions in dry forests of the western United State have given rise to policy mandates for accelerated ecological restoration on U.S. National Forest System and other public lands. In southwestern ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Laws.) forests, mechanized tree thinning and prescribed fire are common restoration treatments but are not acceptable for all sites. Currently there is much interest in managing naturally ignited fires to accomplish restoration objectives but few studies have systematically examined the efficacy of such “resource objective” wildfires for restoring historical…
Publication Type: Journal Article
Historic Variability: Informing Restoration Strategies, Not Prescribing Targets
Year: 2014
The concept of historic range of variability (HRV) is briefly evaluatedwithin the context of its application in ecosystem managementover the past two decades. Despite caveats to the contrary, animplicit assumption continues to emerge of climatic stationarity,and, by corollary, that presettlement centuries provide an appropriatereference period. This is examined from the perspective ofhistoric climate change and ecosystem response. As a means ofdeveloping reference prescriptions and management targets, HRVis generally inappropriate, although if historic periods are usedfor reconstruction that…
Publication Type: Journal Article