Event Introduction:
Colorado's lodgepole pine
forests are fire-adapted ecosystems where infrequent stand-replacing
fires typically play a major role in regeneration. These forests are also
home to mountain pine beetle, a native insect species that causes mortality
in weakened trees when population levels are low. Mountain Pine Beetle
may also occasionally cause high stand mortality under certain
conditions. The highly visible red lodgepole
stands across several Colorado
forests have thrust this ecological process into the public
consciousness, raising fears of extreme wildfires and negative
socio-economic impacts. Are we witnessing an unprecedented catastrophic
event or an infrequent yet natural disturbance? What are the possible
changes in fire behavior and ecosystem response? How should we address
ecological and social objectives across the beetle-killed landscape? The
Student Association for Fire Ecology and the C. P. Gillette Entomology
Club have assembled an expert panel of researchers and land managers with
experience in forest ecology, entomology, fire management, fire ecology
and the social dimensions of fire. This discussion will focus on the
current and future research and management directions for lodgepole pine forests.
*********************************************************************
The program was sponsored
by:
Associated
Students of Colorado
State University
(ASCSU)
The
Department of Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Stewardship (FRWS)
The
Colorado Forest Restoration Institute (CFRI)
The
Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management (BSPM)
|
