Ecological partnership: Restoring Pinyon woodlands on the Navajo Nation, USA DOI Creative Commons
Lionel Whitehair,

Benita Litson,

Bryan Neztsosie

et al.

Trees Forests and People, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 17, P. 100605 - 100605

Published: June 16, 2024

Pinyon woodlands in the semi-arid southwestern United States developed response to environmental factors and historical human interactions, providing sustenance traditional ecological benefits Native Nations, such as Navajo (Diné). Historically, Diné communities practiced land stewardship through seasonal movements resource management, ensuring ecosystem resilience. However, constraints imposed by European colonization led transformative changes their livelihoods environments. Encompassing 71,000 km2, pinyon-juniper comprise 89 % of forested area on Nation reservation, crucial services cultural resources. Since reservation establishment 1868, increased tree density has diminished understory plant elevated woodland susceptibility wildfires, compromising overall forest health. Recognizing imperative for restoration, a collaborative effort between College Northern Arizona University (NAU) was established 2018 develop pinyon research site campus Tsaile, Arizona, reservation. We assessed effectiveness restoration thinning treatments reinstating structure, modifying fuels fire mitigation, engaging students practices. Thinning resulted 62 reduction 25 basal area, altering structure reflect conditions more accurately. This alteration mitigated risk high-intensity wildfires while preserving age older trees (oldest dating back 1435 C.E.). Forest floor were low throughout study, thinned wood removed, activity immediately treated with chipping. The active participation NAU students, interns, faculty study contributed cohesive approach advancing our goals. comprehensive training empowered contribute meaningfully fieldwork data collection, aligning College's mission enhance post-secondary student learning development benefit Diné. By integrating contemporary culturally sensitive perspectives, sheds light treatments, emphasizing delicate balance resilience preservation Nation.

Language: Английский

Adaptive management of shrub-encroached woodlands: assessing the short-term impact of alternative mastication techniques on fuel and biodiversity DOI Creative Commons
Jamie E. Burton, Bianca J. Pickering, Kate Parkins

et al.

Journal of Environmental Management, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 387, P. 125864 - 125864

Published: May 20, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Using Satellite Remote Sensing to Assess Shrubland Vegetation Responses to Large-Scale Juniper Removal in the Northern Great Basin DOI Creative Commons
Joseph T. Smith, Andrew R. Kleinhesselink, Jeremy D. Maestas

et al.

Rangeland Ecology & Management, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 97, P. 123 - 134

Published: Oct. 15, 2024

Language: Английский

Citations

2
Trajectories and tipping points of piñon–juniper woodlands after fire and thinning DOI Creative Commons

Michala L. Phillips,

Cara M. Lauria,

Tova Spector

et al.

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 30(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2024

Abstract Piñon–juniper (PJ) woodlands are a dominant community type across the Intermountain West, comprising over million acres and experiencing critical effects from increasing wildfire. Large PJ mortality regeneration failure after catastrophic wildfire have elevated concerns about long‐term viability of woodlands. Thinning is increasingly used to safeguard forests fire in an attempt increase climate resilience. We only limited understanding how thinning will affect structure function ecosystems. Here, we examined vegetation structure, microclimate conditions, dynamics following ~20 years post‐fire treatments. found that burned areas had undergone state shift did not show signs returning their previous state. This was characterized by (1) distinct plant composition dominated grasses; (2) lack recruitment; (3) decrease sizes interspaces between plants; (4) lower abundance late successional biological soil crusts; (5) mean minimum daily moisture values; (6) vapor pressure deficit; (7) higher photosynthetically active radiation. created communities served as intermediate intact communities. More intensive decreased recruitment biocrust cover. Our results indicate has potential create drier more stressful microsite that, absence management fire, there may be shifts persistent ecological states grasses. Additionally, larger impact on than less thinning, suggesting careful consideration goals could help avoid unintended consequences. While our vulnerability ecosystems they also highlight actions adapted conditions promote re‐establishment.

Language: Английский

Citations

1
Fire Seasonality and Herbicide Effects on Sarcobatus vermiculatus Survival and Structure in Western Great Plains DOI Creative Commons

Nathan M. Wade,

Lance T. Vermeire, John Derek Scasta

et al.

Rangeland Ecology & Management, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 94, P. 64 - 73

Published: March 7, 2024

Black greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus Hook., Torr) is a native halophytic, resprouting shrub found on saline rangeland soils in the western United States, including Great Plains grasslands. Stands can become dense, with limited herbaceous biomass, and are prone to invasion by exotic species. We tested fall spring prescribed fire compared nonburned controls degraded site near Miles City, Montana, healthy Laramie, Wyoming determine effects survival, density, canopy structure. additionally fuel load, time since fire, seasonality prefire measurement postfire In second experiment at Montana only, nontreated controls, 2,4-D, 2,4-D preceded were for biomass Fire did not affect but either season reduced volume 52% across two growing seasons models projected four or five structural recovery. Fine load was negatively related density Herbicide survival 55%, plus herbicide 30%. No treatment detected site. Prescribed reduce structure multiple years without killing shrubs. more effective than if objective applications may be required. While less when applied resprouts after results improve later application. Although provided greatest reduction of greasewood, skeletons dead shrubs remained. Following could combination strategically influence because would remove further

Language: Английский

Citations

1
Ecological Restoration of Pinyon Woodlands on the Navajo Nation, USA DOI
Lionel Whitehair,

Benita Litson,

Bryan Neztsosie

et al.

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Pinyon woodlands in the semi-arid southwestern United States developed response to environmental factors and historical human interactions, providing sustenance traditional ecological benefits Native Nations, such as Navajo (Diné). Historically, Diné communities practiced land stewardship through seasonal movements resource management, ensuring ecosystem resilience. However, constraints imposed by European colonization led transformative changes their livelihoods environments. Encompassing 70,999 km2, pinyon-juniper comprise 89% of forested area on Nation reservation, crucial services cultural resources. Since reservation establishment 1868, increased tree density has diminished understory plant elevated woodland susceptibility wildfires, compromising overall forest health. Recognizing imperative for restoration, a collaborative effort between College Northern Arizona University (NAU) was established 2018 develop pinyon research site campus Tsaile, Arizona, Reservation. We assessed effectiveness restoration thinning treatments reinstating structure, modifying fuels fire mitigation, engaging students practices. Thinning resulted 62% reduction 25% basal area, positively impacting mitigating risk high-intensity preserving age structure older trees (oldest circa 1435 C.E.). Forest floor were low throughout study, thinned wood removed, activity immediately treated with chipping. The active participation NAU students, interns, faculty study contributed cohesive approach advancing our goals. comprehensive training empowered contribute meaningfully fieldwork data collection, aligning College's mission enhance post-secondary student learning development benefit People. By integrating contemporary culturally sensitive perspectives, sheds light treatments, emphasizing delicate balance resilience preservation Nation.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Ecological partnership: Restoring Pinyon woodlands on the Navajo Nation, USA DOI Creative Commons
Lionel Whitehair,

Benita Litson,

Bryan Neztsosie

et al.

Trees Forests and People, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 17, P. 100605 - 100605

Published: June 16, 2024

Pinyon woodlands in the semi-arid southwestern United States developed response to environmental factors and historical human interactions, providing sustenance traditional ecological benefits Native Nations, such as Navajo (Diné). Historically, Diné communities practiced land stewardship through seasonal movements resource management, ensuring ecosystem resilience. However, constraints imposed by European colonization led transformative changes their livelihoods environments. Encompassing 71,000 km2, pinyon-juniper comprise 89 % of forested area on Nation reservation, crucial services cultural resources. Since reservation establishment 1868, increased tree density has diminished understory plant elevated woodland susceptibility wildfires, compromising overall forest health. Recognizing imperative for restoration, a collaborative effort between College Northern Arizona University (NAU) was established 2018 develop pinyon research site campus Tsaile, Arizona, reservation. We assessed effectiveness restoration thinning treatments reinstating structure, modifying fuels fire mitigation, engaging students practices. Thinning resulted 62 reduction 25 basal area, altering structure reflect conditions more accurately. This alteration mitigated risk high-intensity wildfires while preserving age older trees (oldest dating back 1435 C.E.). Forest floor were low throughout study, thinned wood removed, activity immediately treated with chipping. The active participation NAU students, interns, faculty study contributed cohesive approach advancing our goals. comprehensive training empowered contribute meaningfully fieldwork data collection, aligning College's mission enhance post-secondary student learning development benefit Diné. By integrating contemporary culturally sensitive perspectives, sheds light treatments, emphasizing delicate balance resilience preservation Nation.

Language: Английский

Citations

0