BLM-Arizona Monitoring Climate and Fire Resiliency in Forests of Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument

Background: In 1995, the Ecological Restoration Institute (ERI) at Northern Arizona University and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Arizona Strip District, formed a partnership to address concerns over the potential for large, catastrophic wildfire and loss of critical ecosystem services in ponderosa pine forests of Grand Canyon National Monument. An extensive array of long-term monitoring plots were established by the ERI to study ecosystem responses and effectiveness of restoration treatments that covered approximately 4000 acres. Prior to implementation of restoration treatments that included tree thinning and prescribed fire, key indicator variables related to forest structure, vegetation, and hazardous fuels were measured. Following treatments monitoring plots were periodically re-measured and results were documented. Objectives:To assist in long-term planning and adaptive management as well as to increase effectiveness of management activities for meeting public desires for sustainable ecosystems, the BLM is looking to establish a partnership that seeks information on the following: : 1. Long-term effectiveness of landscape-scale restoration treatments for increasing resilience and ecological integrity in terms of forest structure, old-growth trees, hazardous fuels, wildlife habitat, and understory vegetation; 2. Effectiveness of restoration treatments in restoring characteristic landscape structure; 3. Effects of landscape restoration treatments and climate change on potential fire behavior and ecological integrity; 4. Methods and techniques for increasing landscape â¿¿scale monitoring capabilities.