Did you know that ponderosa pine forests provide critical habitat for wildlife, forage for grazing, wood products, and ample recreation opportunities? Did you know that these forests have been used and managed by people for thousands of years, including the Nuchu (Ute) and 24 other Native American tribes and communities throughout the region?

Ponderosa pine forests are superbly adapted to wildfire. As trees age they gain thick bark that allows them to survive frequent surface fires. These fires create small openings, a good place for young trees to establish, while also leaving groups of living trees.

In the early 1900s, unmanaged and intensive removed many old trees from the landscape. Fire suppression combined with unregulated grazing resulted in forests with fewer grasses and more trees. This increase in tree density puts the forest at risk to insect outbreaks and more severe fire.

To help conserve these forests into the future, DWRF partners work together to remove excess trees and replicate historic forest patterns that were largely maintained by wildfire. Ecologically-focused management approaches to achieve these goals include mechanical treatments (cutting trees) and prescribed fire. Strategic fuel breaks, or strips of land where vegetation has been modified to slow or control a fire, help reduce the risk of fire spreading off forests and into neighborhoods. Communities and homeowners reduce their risk by clearing evacuation routes, creating defensible space, and fire-hardening homes. These actions not only help conserve forests, but also protect lives and infrastructure and support the local recreation and wood products economy.

Forests operate on long time scales and using management to restore ecosystems is a slow and methodical process. By continuing to work together we help ensure our communities can coexist with these forests into the future.