Description

ANNOTATION: This paper presents recommendations for fuels treatments in ponderosa pine forests in the Southwest, Colorado Front Range, and Black Hills of South Dakota stemming from a synthesis of existing knowledge in the peer-reviewed literature and discussions with fuels treatment practitioners. Specific treatments, the circumstances under which they can be applied, treatment effects, and recommendations related to where, how, and how often fuels treatments may be prescribed to achieve desired outcomes are described. ABSTRACT: The objective of this paper is to present recommendations for fuels treatments in ponderosa pine forests in the Southwest, Colorado Front Range, and Black Hills of South Dakota. We have synthesized existing knowledge from the peer-reviewed literature and administrative studies and acquired local knowledge through a series of discussions with fuels treatment practitioners. We describe specific treatments, the circumstances under which they can be applied, and treatment effects. We provide recommendations related to where, how, and how often fuels treatments may be prescribed to achieve desired outcomes. Desired outcomes address social, political, economic, and ecological factors.