Skip to main content
Author(s):
Joel A. Frandsen
Year Published:

Cataloging Information

Topic(s):
Management Approaches

NRFSN number: 11480
FRAMES RCS number: 12570
Record updated:

Since European settlement, Utah's vegetative landscapes have changed. Like other arid states, these wildland systems were depleted and altered. Certain steps were taken through private, community, and finally public efforts, such as establishment of Forest Reserves (National Forests), to stop the slide. Conservation and management actions were taken to restore, rehabilitate and manage these landscapes. Utah has numerous examples where the productive capability of the land has been restored. Unfortunately, in this environmental era, we are again in a downward ecological spiral, and the productivity of these landscapes towards desired objectives is not being met. The action needed to stop this trend is not getting the attention to stabilize and correct the problem. The Healthy Forests Initiative and the Healthy Forests Restoration Act provide some positive steps in this direction, and the knowledge and technology are available and can be expanded upon. The challenge is: can we muster the will and support to reverse the downward spiral?

Citation

Frandsen, A. Joel. 2008. Landscape-level changes. Pages 199-206. In: Gottfried, Gerald J.; Shaw, John D.; Ford, Paulette L. (compilers). Ecology, management, and restoration of pinyon-juniper and ponderosa pine ecosystems: combined proceedings of the 2005 St. George, Utah and 2006 Albuquerque, New Mexico workshops. Proceedings RMRS-P-51. Fort Collins, CO: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 218 p.

Access this Document