 Background:
Millions of acres of ponderosa pine forest in the Southwest have been affected
by drought, fire suppression, and bark beetle infestations. These factors
have created heavy fuel loads that can sustain uncharacteristic, high
intensity wildfires, like the 500,000 acre Rodeo-Chediski fire in 2002.
Extensive areas along the wildland urban interface (WUI) in northern
Arizona have been or will be thinned to reduce the risk that these
mega-fires pose to adjacent communities. Although there is widespread
agreement that fuels reduction and restoration treatments are needed,
it is important that these treatments also incorporate the habitat
requirements of forest wildlife. The best combinations of treatments
that reduce fire risk and maintain wildlife habitat remain unknown.
In 2005, the Arizona Game and Fish Department
initiated research on the effects of fuels
reduction treatments on wildlife in the Flagstaff
WUI. This is a collaborative effort with
the Ecological Restoration Institute (ERI)
at Northern Arizona University, the Greater
Flagstaff Forest Partnership, and the U.S.
Forest Service, Coconino National Forest,
Peaks and Mormon Lake Ranger Districts.
Location:
This research is being conducted in the wildland
urban interface of Flagstaff, including the
areas surrounding Kachina Village, Mountainaire,
and Fort Valley.
Approach:
We
identified 5 study areas each representing
a different fuels reduction approach. For
example, one area was treated using a reference-condition
based forest restoration prescription developed
by ERI, a second was thinned using an even-age
prescription, and a third is currently being
thinned using an uneven-age prescription
with small patches (0.25-1 acre) of unthinned
forest imbedded in the landscape. We also
developed an experimental wildlife-focused
treatment designed for application in forthcoming
fuels reduction projects in the Flagstaff
WUI.
In each study area,
we are collecting data on the abundance
of tassel-eared squirrels and breeding
songbirds, and measuring the foraging rates
of songbirds during
fall migration. In Fall 2005, we will initiate a radio-telemetry study of tassel-eared
squirrels. We will use satellite imagery data in a Geographic Information System
(GIS) to describe forest attributes such as tree spacing, patch type and patch
size. We will use this forest attribute information to assess the influence
of different treatments on squirrels and
songbirds. We expect to complete initial
analyses by 2007; however, this research will likely continue through 2009.
Benefits:
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is actively engaged in developing
forest treatments that reduce fire risk and also benefit wildlife. However,
much remains to be learned in order to achieve these multiple goals.
Our research will provide land managers with specific recommendations
on maintaining wildlife habitat in large-scale fire risk reduction projects.
For more information
contact:
Catherine Wightman, Arizona Game and Fish Department, 2221 West Greenway
Road., Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000.
Phone: (623) 236-7662 E-mail: cwightman@azgfd.gov |
