Document Type

Report

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Monitoring Effects of PJ Harvest and Utilization

Publisher

Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University

Publication Date

12-2014

Journal Article Version

Accepted Manuscript

First Page

1

Last Page

51

Abstract

Although Pinyon pine and juniper species (PJ) are endemic to the US, the expansion of these ecosystems into decreasing sage-brush steppe communities has been rapid. For example, due to changes in climate, fire suppression, land-use and decrease of fuels associated with grazing, PJ woodlands have expanded and currently cover 19 million ha as of 2011 in the Intermountain West (Bates et al. 2000, Pierson et al. 2013, Abella et al. 2012). Before settlement, 90% of that area consisted largely of sage-brush steppe communities (Pierson et al. 2013). Not only has acreage increased, but the density per acre has also increased (Bates et al. 2000). There are many negative ecological implications associated with the juniper encroachment, including a decrease in vegetative cover and an increase in erosion (Pierson et al. 2013). Land managers are actively seeking to restore ecological integrity via removal of PJ (Abella et al. 2012). Typical treatments include burning and various mechanical methods (Pierson et al. 2013). Our ability to effect ecological restoration is limited by the cost of non-removal treatments and lack of viable utilization options. Therefore, the goal of this project was to explore impacts of different mechanical methods that could eventually result in a biofuel product that might cover some of the costs of restoration.

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