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Prepared by TNC for Ciudad SWCD, February 2015

Presentation to the Cohesive Strategy Science Workshop in Reno, Nevada on April 26, 2017

KOAT TV features benefits of forest treatments supported through the Rio Grande Water Fund

Report on forest health conditions in New Mexico published by NM EMNRD Foresty Division. Based on annual insect and disease surveys conducted collaboratively by New Mexico State Forestry and the USDA Forest Service Forest Health Protection, NM Zone in 2017

New Mexico rare plant reports

Southwest Fire Science Consortium webinar, Jan. 2015. available at https://www.frames.gov/rcs/18000/18920.html.

Handout distributed at the January 11, 2019 NM Forest and Watershed Management Coordinating Group meeting

RMRS-GTR-310. USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station. Abstract: Ponderosa pine and dry mixed-conifer forests in the Southwest United States are experiencing, or have become increasingly susceptible to, large-scale severe wildfire, insect, and disease episodes resulting in altered plant and animal demographics, reduced productivity and biodiversity, and impaired ecosystem processes and functions. We present a management framework based on a synthesis of science on forest ecology and management, reference conditions, and lessons learned during implementations of our restoration framework. Our framework focuses on the restoration of key elements similar to the historical composition and structure of vegetation in these forests: (1) species composition; (2) groups of trees; (3) scattered individual trees; (4) grass-forb-shrub interspaces; (5) snags, logs, and woody debris; and (6) variation in the arrangements of these elements in space and time. Our framework informs management strategies that can improve the resiliency of frequent-fire forests and facilitate the resumption of characteristic ecosystem processes and functions by restoring the composition, structure, and spatial patterns of vegetation. We believe restoration of key compositional and structural elements on a per-site basis will restore resiliency of frequent-fire forests in the Southwest, and thereby position them to better resist, and adapt to, future disturbances and climates.

Video presentations from the conference held October 18-19, 2016 at Utah State University. As climate changes, forests are being impacted by severe drought, longer fire seasons, and impressive insect epidemics. New approaches to landscape restoration are needed to cope with these disturbances. The 2016 Restoring the West Conference offered presentations by experts in climate science, landscape restoration, and forest ecology on techniques for this uncertain future, and gave examples where these techniques are working.

Bagdon, B. and Huang, C.H., 2016. Southwest Fire Science Consortium Working Paper