The tiny mountain pine beetle has feasted on Colorado’s lodgepole pine forests, turning countless acres of trees into dead wood. An autumn presentation on the tiny but powerful bug shed some light on how Colorado’s majestic forests will be impacted by the beetle infestation.
Rocky Mountain Forests
Wildfires in the West: From fanatical fire suppression to ‘stay & defend’
The history of wildfire and fire suppression in the U.S. is replete with stories of hubris, disaster and miscalculation. Stephen Pyne of Arizona State University shared some thoughts during a lecture in Boulder.
Insects, wildfire suppression, development challenge Colorado’s forests
The mountain pine beetle epidemic wildfire suppression, climate change and rural property development will impact the Colorado’s forests over the next several decades.
OSU: Managed Northwest conifer forests threaten many species
When the primary goal of a forest is sustainable timber production, the lack of historic tree diversity, shrub and vegetation species may have long-term impacts on forest health.
OSU: Yellowstone wolves influence elk; benefit trees, streams
The study conducted by forestry researchers supports a “trophic cascade” theory of ecological interdependence — extending to plants, animals, food chains and ecological zones.
