Moving forward: responding to and mitigating effects of the MPB epidemic

The final webinar in the Future Forest Webinar Series provided an example of how managers utilized available science to address questions about post-epidemic forest conditions. Assessments of current conditions and projected trends, and how these compare with historical patterns, provide important information for land management planning. Large-scale disturbance events, such as the MPB epidemic, can change future vegetation conditions, disturbances and disturbance interactions, and habitat for wildlife species. This case study from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest illustrates the value of rapid assessments for conservation planning, and it provides a template for future science-management collaboration.