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forest health also includes:
Mountain pine beetle damage across the Western United States is more obvious every season. As trees die, entire landscapes turn red, brown, and then gray. In Northern Colorado, the beetle epidemic is intensifying. Will the forest survive? Yes! Land management agencies along the Front Range are working together to address the mountain pine beetle epidemic: Rocky Mountain National Park's priorities are to remove hazard trees and hazard fuels to protect life and property. Park personnel selectively spray to protect healthy trees that provide shade, beauty and a good seed source in locations such as campgrounds, historic landscapes, picnic areas, and visitor centers. The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland are using both tree removal and spraying to respond to the epidemic in high value recreation areas such as campgrounds and trailheads. Workers have removed more than 3,000 hazard trees. The forest staff also continues to thin forests near communities to reduce risks associated with wildfires. Five Front Range counties (Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Jefferson, and Larimer), the Colorado State Forest Service, and private landowners are working collaboratively to reduce the spread of MPB in parks and open space. State and county workers thin overcrowded stands and work with other land management agencies to share information and identify needs on a landscape scale. For more information: Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland Visitor Information U.S. Forest Service Mountain Pine Beetle Incident Management Team Colorado State Forest Service Colorado State Parks Colorado State University Extension Boulder County Parks and Open Space Clear Creek County Gilpin County Jefferson County Open Space Larimer County Department of Natural Resources |
Last updated: April 15, 2015