Landscape simulation modeling will be used to develop detailed management guidelines for restoring and sustaining whitebark pine under future climates, accounting for the principal stressors that threaten its persistence (exotic disease infections, mountain pine beetles, and fire exclusion policies). We will build on existing work, including the 2012 publication A Range-Wide Restoration Strategy for Whitebark Pine Forests and existing simulation areas within critical whitebark pine habitat. This project will create a robust and trans-boundary set of management tools for creating resistant and resilient whitebark pine forests within the Rocky Mountains, USA and Canada.
FY2013Objectives:
We propose to use FireBGCv2 simulation modeling to develop effective restoration strategies, treatments and detailed management guidelines for creating resilient and persistent whitebark pine forests in the Rocky Mountains (USA and Canada). These recommendations will provide critical information to incorporate into decision support tools for the conservation of endangered whitebark pine forests in perpetuity.
We will develop a guide that will answer the often asked management questions of: What stands should I restore? When and where should I plant rust-resistant seedlings? How can I ensure that restoration efforts will be effective under projected climate changes?
