Will Mesa Verde’s piñon-juniper forests return?

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Will Mesa Verde’s piñon-juniper forests return?

In wake of wildfires, trees struggle to regenerate
Piñon and juniper forests that burned in Mesa Verde National Park in the early 2000s have shown little or no signs of regeneration. Steve Underwood, the park’s fire manager, says, “If you fly over, there’s fire scars everywhere. You’re seeing these forests change, and it’s very startling.”
Steve Underwood, fire manager at Mesa Verde National Park, discusses an area of the park that hasn’t burned. Carbon dating of sediment deposits found that at one time Mesa Verde supported ponderosa and Douglas fir in wetter years and was absent of piñon-juniper in drier years.
Oak brush leaves killed by frost can become fuel for fires.
The Long Mesa Fire was one of four wildfires in the early 2000s that burned about 24,000 acres in Mesa Verde.
The Long Mesa Fire burned 2,600 acres in Mesa Verde Park in July 2002. More than a decade later, a multitude of factors seem to be inhibiting piñon-juniper regeneration in the burned areas.
The Long Mesa Fire burns in Mesa Verde Park in July 2002. More than a decade later, a multitude of factors seem to be inhibiting piñon-juniper regeneration in the burned areas.
The Long Mesa Fire burns in Mesa Verde Park in July 2002. More than a decade later, a multitude of factors seem to be inhibiting piñon-juniper regeneration in the burned areas.

Will Mesa Verde’s piñon-juniper forests return?

Piñon and juniper forests that burned in Mesa Verde National Park in the early 2000s have shown little or no signs of regeneration. Steve Underwood, the park’s fire manager, says, “If you fly over, there’s fire scars everywhere. You’re seeing these forests change, and it’s very startling.”
Steve Underwood, fire manager at Mesa Verde National Park, discusses an area of the park that hasn’t burned. Carbon dating of sediment deposits found that at one time Mesa Verde supported ponderosa and Douglas fir in wetter years and was absent of piñon-juniper in drier years.
Oak brush leaves killed by frost can become fuel for fires.
The Long Mesa Fire was one of four wildfires in the early 2000s that burned about 24,000 acres in Mesa Verde.
The Long Mesa Fire burned 2,600 acres in Mesa Verde Park in July 2002. More than a decade later, a multitude of factors seem to be inhibiting piñon-juniper regeneration in the burned areas.
The Long Mesa Fire burns in Mesa Verde Park in July 2002. More than a decade later, a multitude of factors seem to be inhibiting piñon-juniper regeneration in the burned areas.
The Long Mesa Fire burns in Mesa Verde Park in July 2002. More than a decade later, a multitude of factors seem to be inhibiting piñon-juniper regeneration in the burned areas.
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