Reference conditions and ecological restoration: a southwestern ponderosa pine perspective
Moore MM, Covington WW, Fule PZ. 1999. Reference conditions and ecological restoration: a southwestern ponderosa pine perspective. Ecological Applications. 9(4):1266-1277
Ecological restoration is the process of reestablishing the structure and function of native ecosystems and developing mutually beneficial human-wildland interactions that are compatible with the evolutionary history of those ecosystems. Restoration is based on an ecosystems reference conditions (or natural range of variability); the difference between reference conditions and contemporary conditions is used to asses the need for restorative treatments and to evaluate their success. &ecosystem characteristics with essential roles in the evolutionary environment are chosen for detailed study. Key characteristics of structure, function, and disturbance especially fire regimes in ponderosa pine ecosystems are quantified as much as possible through dendroecological and paleoecological studies, historical evidence, and comparison to undisrupted sites. &. Testing of restoration treatments at four sites in northern Arizona, USA, has shown promise, but the diverse context of management goals and constraints for Southwestern forest ecosystems means that appropriate application of restoration techniques will probably differ in various settings.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Moore, Margaret; Covington, W; Fule, Peter
- Units
- GRCA , PARA
- Keywords
- Ecological Restoration, Ecosystem Management, evolutionary environment, Management, Pinus ponderosa, Plant Communities, Plant Studies, Ponderosa Pine, range of variability, Restoration - Natural