BLM-CO Assisted Succession and Assessment in Burn Scars

Throughout the West, logging and burning have caused many issues in forest communities. Non-native invasive plant species take over the newly burned slash piles, creating holes in the forest floor with no tree regeneration; or, alternatively, seed mixes create a mat of grass that shades out diverse plant regeneration. Logging and leaving slash piles leads to a buildup of dangerous fuels for wildfires, and thus are typically burned in winter to reduce fuel loads. This burning damages the soil and adversely affects the regeneration and successional patterns of the forest community. Through this funding opportunity, the BLM Colorado State Office (BLM-CO) seeks to gather information and conduct field studies for the purposes of improving processes in native plant restoration, addressing the consequences of slash pile burning, and developing techniques for soil rehabilitation.