Keyword: Monitoring

Sustaining forest soil quality and productivity [Chapter 3]

Soil sustainability is key to maintaining forest growth and ecosystem services around the world. Determining how to maintain soil functions and knowing when soils are degraded can be difficult. Complicating our understanding of the relationship between soil functions and soil sustainability is the inherent heterogeneity of forest soils.

Interior West global change workshop; April 25-27, 1995; Fort Collins, CO

Research accomplishments of the Interior West Global Change Program are outlined herein, and workshop participants discussed management implications of the results. Action to be taken now includes establishing monitoring systems to detect changes and guide management, and to maintain resilient ecosystems capable of responding successfully to change in any direction.

Development of tools for early detection, monitoring and management of the koa wilt pathogen (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. koae) in Hawaiíi

Koa (Acacia koa Gray) is an endemic, keystone species in Hawai’i’s forests. Koa is valuable economically (contributed $30 million to Hawai’i’s forestry industry in 2001), ecologically (habitat for many endangered birds and insects), and culturally (koa is the main wood used for making Hawaiian canoes). Mortality of koa trees due to koa wilt (caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.

Wild horse and burro considerations [Chapter 8]

Wild horses (Equus caballus) and wild burros (E. asinus), like domestic livestock, can alter sagebrush ecosystem structure and composition and affect habitat quality for sagebrush dependent species (Beever and Aldridge 2011). The presence of Federally protected wild horses and wild burros can also have substantial effects on the capacity for habitat restoration efforts to achieve conservation and restoration goals.

Livestock grazing management [Chapter 7]

Part 1 of the Science Framework identifies livestock grazing as the most widespread land use in the sagebrush biome (Chambers et al. 2017a; hereafter, Part 1). In the Conservation Objectives Team Report (USDOI FWS 2013) improper livestock grazing is considered a present and widespread threat to Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter, GRSG) for most GRSG populations.

Application of national seed strategy concepts [Chapter 6]

Native plant species are the foundation of sagebrush ecosystems and provide essential habitat for wildlife species, such as Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter, GRSG).

Invasive plant management [Chapter 5]

One of the most significant stressors to the sagebrush biome is expansion and dominance of nonnative ecosystem-transforming species, particularly invasive annual and perennial plants.

Wildland fire and vegetation management [Chapter 4]

Wildland fire has always been an important ecosystem process across the sagebrush biome. Recently, the scale of sagebrush ecosystem loss and fragmentation has increased due to a combination of uncharacteristic wildland fire, invasive annual grasses, juniper (Juniperus spp.) and piñon (Pinus spp.) expansion, and anthropogenic land use and development.

Climate adaptation [Chapter 3]

Management actions that enable adaptation to climate change and promote resilience to disturbance are becoming increasingly important in the sagebrush biome. In recent decades temperatures have increased, growing seasons have lengthened, and in many areas the timing and amount of precipitation has changed (Chambers et al. 2017 [hereafter, Part 1], section 4; Kunkel et al. 2013a,b,c).