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WHITEBARK PINE RESTORATION IN WILDERNESS:

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WHITEBARK PINE RESTORATION IN WILDERNESS:

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    1. NOTE to myself...change “wildness” to “untrammeled” throughoutNOTE to myself...change “wildness” to “untrammeled” throughout

    2. Geographical Range Whitebark Pine Northern Rockies (Yellowstone Ecosystem) Cascade Crest Sierra Nevada

    3. Whitebark Pine Important High Mountain Ecosystem

    4. Whitebark Pine Ecosystems Keystone Upper Subalpine Forest Covers over 15 % landscape Protects snowpack Delays snowmelt Provides high quality water Provides critical habitat Unique plant communities Adds to landscape diversity Provides important habitat and food

    5. Whitebark Pine Producer of an important wildlife food Good cone crops 3-5 years Large, nutritious, fatty seed Utilized by over 110 species Wingless seed Cone scales do not open Cones displayed upwards

    6. Whitebark Pine Regeneration Dynamics The bird is sole seed dispersal vector Disperses seeds up to 10 km and as far as 20 km Buries 1-15 seeds about 1-2 cm in caches on ground Unclaimed seed whitebark pine regeneration Can create 8,000 to 20,000 caches in one year Revisits 50-80 percent of caches

    7. Whitebark Pine Decline Major Causal Factors Mountain pine beetle White pine blister rust Fire Climate Change?

    8. Whitebark Pine Ecosystems Declining at Rapid Rates Abnormally high mortality Losing ecosystem from landscape Necessitates restoration measures Must understand whitebark pine ecology

    9. Whitebark Pine Decline White Pine Blister Rust Exotic disease from Eurasia Especially fatal to whitebark Kills cone-bearing branches first Natural rust resistance <1 to 5 %

    10. Whitebark Pine Decline Mountain Pine Beetle 1930’s Beetle epidemic/Current Originated in lodgepole pine Killed large, cone-bearing trees Natural event - 200 to 800 years

    11. Many, if not all wildernesses face some sort of ecological problem that affects what are thought to be natural conditions and processes. Some of these problems have been caused by direct action, such as fire exclusion. Other problems are indirect, such as the spread of invasive species from areas surrounding a wilderness, or changing temperature and moisture regimes that allow the increased spread of native species such as mountain pine beetles.Many, if not all wildernesses face some sort of ecological problem that affects what are thought to be natural conditions and processes. Some of these problems have been caused by direct action, such as fire exclusion. Other problems are indirect, such as the spread of invasive species from areas surrounding a wilderness, or changing temperature and moisture regimes that allow the increased spread of native species such as mountain pine beetles.

    12. There are all sorts of questions about whether we really could ever restore natural conditions and processes in today’s world, but in wilderness the first question we need to ask ourselves is “should we”? “Should we” raises both philosophical and policy questions about what wilderness is, in addition to the technical/scientific questions about restoration.There are all sorts of questions about whether we really could ever restore natural conditions and processes in today’s world, but in wilderness the first question we need to ask ourselves is “should we”? “Should we” raises both philosophical and policy questions about what wilderness is, in addition to the technical/scientific questions about restoration.

    13. There are a host of benefits and values of wilderness, but two in particular are very relevant for this topic. Untrammeled has special relevance in today’s increasingly modified, manipulated, developed, and controlled world. Wilderness has become the ONLY place where as a society we have decided to let nature be, to let nature take it’s own course.There are a host of benefits and values of wilderness, but two in particular are very relevant for this topic. Untrammeled has special relevance in today’s increasingly modified, manipulated, developed, and controlled world. Wilderness has become the ONLY place where as a society we have decided to let nature be, to let nature take it’s own course.

    14. By taking restoration actions we are manipulating the ecosystem and therefore are not supporting or improving the untrammeled value of wilderness. By not taking restoration actions and therefore supporting the untrammeled value, we increase the risk of losing WBP. These relationships are stated in oversimplified terms to clearly distinguish the differences between these two core values. In reality few people would state this case in so black and white terms. For example, letting naturally ignited fires burn, i.e., wildland fire use, is an action that supports BOTH the untrammeled and naturalness core values of wilderness.By taking restoration actions we are manipulating the ecosystem and therefore are not supporting or improving the untrammeled value of wilderness. By not taking restoration actions and therefore supporting the untrammeled value, we increase the risk of losing WBP. These relationships are stated in oversimplified terms to clearly distinguish the differences between these two core values. In reality few people would state this case in so black and white terms. For example, letting naturally ignited fires burn, i.e., wildland fire use, is an action that supports BOTH the untrammeled and naturalness core values of wilderness.

    15. The untrammeled value of wilderness IS important: how many times in the past have we taken actions with the absolute best of intentions and with the best scientific information, only to realize the error later on? For example, DDT was invented to kill mosquitoes and reduce malaria, and the Swiss chemist who invented DDT was awarded the Nobel Prize; only later on did we realize the problems caused by DDT.The untrammeled value of wilderness IS important: how many times in the past have we taken actions with the absolute best of intentions and with the best scientific information, only to realize the error later on? For example, DDT was invented to kill mosquitoes and reduce malaria, and the Swiss chemist who invented DDT was awarded the Nobel Prize; only later on did we realize the problems caused by DDT.

    17. These views are overstated to clearly draw out the differences between them. These views are also stated in terms that would be used by the supporters of each view. If we take instead the view of what would one side call the other, we’d like hear the proponents of wildness say that the proponents of naturalness are “arrogant” and visa versa the proponents of naturalness would likely call the proponents of wildness “irresponsible.”These views are overstated to clearly draw out the differences between them. These views are also stated in terms that would be used by the supporters of each view. If we take instead the view of what would one side call the other, we’d like hear the proponents of wildness say that the proponents of naturalness are “arrogant” and visa versa the proponents of naturalness would likely call the proponents of wildness “irresponsible.”

    18. To fully deal with these decisions requires understanding ALL four boxes that influence the decision-space.To fully deal with these decisions requires understanding ALL four boxes that influence the decision-space.

    19. If the answer to the first question is “yes” then move to the second question. If the answer to the second question is “yes” then move to steps 3 and 4.If the answer to the first question is “yes” then move to the second question. If the answer to the second question is “yes” then move to steps 3 and 4.

    20. The purpose of this question to understand if there really is a problem with WBP and whether different people agree that there is a problem and then if this problem is actually undesirable.The purpose of this question to understand if there really is a problem with WBP and whether different people agree that there is a problem and then if this problem is actually undesirable.

    21. Purpose of this question is to determine in only a general way if WBP restoration in wilderness should be considered because of the high legal, scientific, philosophical, and ethical standards for taking such actions in wilderness.Purpose of this question is to determine in only a general way if WBP restoration in wilderness should be considered because of the high legal, scientific, philosophical, and ethical standards for taking such actions in wilderness.

    22. The purpose of this step is to identify a range of possible restoration outcomes. A single DFC could have several alternative sets of actions ranging from less to more intrusive, as well as actions occurring in different locations.The purpose of this step is to identify a range of possible restoration outcomes. A single DFC could have several alternative sets of actions ranging from less to more intrusive, as well as actions occurring in different locations.

    23. The purpose of this step is to identify which DFC and associated actions minimize the impact on wilderness character.The purpose of this step is to identify which DFC and associated actions minimize the impact on wilderness character.

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