The Process

1. Select an area for analysis and treatment.

A watershed or other landscape unit with natural, logical boundaries is selected.

2. Identify management issues dependent on the current vegetation conditions and uses.

Fuels management
Private property and powerline protection
Habitat for threatened and endangered species
Habitat for deer and elk
Recreation
Overall forest/range health

3. Divide area into landscape units that share common vegetation types and natural disturbance patterns.

Examples of a vegetation types: sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, ponderosa pine
Natural disturbances: drought, fire, disease
Patterns: the frequency and severity of natural disturbances

4. Develop a vegetation mosaic objective for each landscape unit.

Seral Stages and Succession

In a naturally occurring ecosystem, vegetation occurs in a patchwork of different community types and age classes (or seral stages). This diversity is important for the health and sustainability of the landscape. These different age classes and their arrangement on the landscape also provide varying uses for humans and for plant and animal communities. The patches occur in an array of shapes, sizes, and arrangements. This complex matrix (or mosaic) is in a constant state of dynamic equilibrium. Natural disturbances such as drought, fire and disease continually modify the landscape by resetting the vegetation cycles. When developing management strategies it is important to produce or enhance this complex vegetation mosaic.

Historic Range of Variability

Best available science and local management expertise are used to determine the desired mosaic pattern for each landscape unit. Mosaic objectives are determined using historic range of variability data. Historic range of variability is a method to understand the dynamic nature of ecosystems; the processes that sustain and change ecosystems; the current state of the ecosystem in relationship to the past; and the possible ranges of conditions that are feasible to maintain. It is a useful tool for determining a range of desired future conditions and for establishing the limits of acceptable change. Best available science and local management expertise are used to determine the historic range of variability.

5. Prioritize management issues to determine, when overlap occurs, which dominates a landscape unit or is the “driver”.

Examples of management issues listed in order of importance:

Endangered species habitat

Wildland-Urban Interface and power line protection

Overall forest/range health

The highest ranked issue becomes the “driver” in selecting vegetation mosaic objectives. The remaining issues became “modifiers” for projects during the design phase. By working collaboratively and on a large-scale, projects can be designed to address multiple issues concurrently.

6. Develop a vegetation mosaic objectives map for each of the “drivers” by overlaying the management issues onto the landscape units.

By employing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, data can be analyzed on a landscape-scale.

A mosaic is outlined incorporating patches of varying sizes and arrangements of each age class.

“Driver” objectives are based on a combination of local conservation plans, appropriate science, and management experience.

7. Create an existing vegetation mosaic map to profile current conditions by cross-walking the best available GIS data from each of the agencies.

It is necessary to compare existing conditions with desired conditions.

Data integration from the various agencies is critical.

8. Identify areas of departure from the desired mosaic objectives.

Analysis identifies where there are departures from historic vegetation ranges or from current management objectives.

At larger scales, patterns emerge which cannot always be seen at smaller scales. Areas of departure are not always where expected. By working on a landscape-scale, a more objective look at the ecosystem is possible.

9. Treatment projects are identified for the area with the ultimate goal of long-term restoration.

Potential projects are submitted by the Partners to meet their management objectives.

Projects are screened to determine if they meet the desired mosaic objectives – and modified as necessary or deemed unfeasible.

Project designs are modified where possible to address multiple interests – e.g. mule deer habitat in a WUI project.

Active AND passive management opportunities are identified.

10. Successful landscape restoration is achieved.

Collaboration leads to diverse approaches, project design, and projects addressing multiple issues.

Landscape-scale approach leads to new projects designed to meet ecological needs and management objectives simultaneously.


	UP Project • Home • Current News • Executive Summary • UP Project Facts • The Uncompahgre Plateau • Landscape-Level Planning • Spring Creek/Dry Creek • Ironhorse • Big Dominguez • A Need for Restoration • Native Plant Program • Invasive Species Management • Other Projects & Studies • Education & Outreach • Awards • Slideshow • UP Publications • Contact Us		1. Select an area for analysis and treatment. A watershed or other landscape unit with natural, logical boundaries is selected. 2. Identify management issues dependent on the current vegetation conditions and uses. Fuels management Private property and powerline protection Habitat for threatened and endangered species Habitat for deer and elk Recreation Overall forest/range health 3. Divide area into landscape units that share common vegetation types and natural disturbance patterns. Examples of a vegetation types: sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, ponderosa pine Natural disturbances: drought, fire, disease Patterns: the frequency and severity of natural disturbances 4. Develop a vegetation mosaic objective for each landscape unit. Seral Stages and Succession In a naturally occurring ecosystem, vegetation occurs in a patchwork of different community types and age classes (or seral stages). This diversity is important for the health and sustainability of the landscape. These different age classes and their arrangement on the landscape also provide varying uses for humans and for plant and animal communities. The patches occur in an array of shapes, sizes, and arrangements. This complex matrix (or mosaic) is in a constant state of dynamic equilibrium. Natural disturbances such as drought, fire and disease continually modify the landscape by resetting the vegetation cycles. When developing management strategies it is important to produce or enhance this complex vegetation mosaic. Historic Range of Variability Best available science and local management expertise are used to determine the desired mosaic pattern for each landscape unit. Mosaic objectives are determined using historic range of variability data. Historic range of variability is a method to understand the dynamic nature of ecosystems; the processes that sustain and change ecosystems; the current state of the ecosystem in relationship to the past; and the possible ranges of conditions that are feasible to maintain. It is a useful tool for determining a range of desired future conditions and for establishing the limits of acceptable change. Best available science and local management expertise are used to determine the historic range of variability. 5. Prioritize management issues to determine, when overlap occurs, which dominates a landscape unit or is the “driver”. Examples of management issues listed in order of importance: Endangered species habitat Wildland-Urban Interface and power line protection Overall forest/range health The highest ranked issue becomes the “driver” in selecting vegetation mosaic objectives. The remaining issues became “modifiers” for projects during the design phase. By working collaboratively and on a large-scale, projects can be designed to address multiple issues concurrently. 6. Develop a vegetation mosaic objectives map for each of the “drivers” by overlaying the management issues onto the landscape units. By employing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology, data can be analyzed on a landscape-scale. A mosaic is outlined incorporating patches of varying sizes and arrangements of each age class. “Driver” objectives are based on a combination of local conservation plans, appropriate science, and management experience. 7. Create an existing vegetation mosaic map to profile current conditions by cross-walking the best available GIS data from each of the agencies. It is necessary to compare existing conditions with desired conditions. Data integration from the various agencies is critical. 8. Identify areas of departure from the desired mosaic objectives. Analysis identifies where there are departures from historic vegetation ranges or from current management objectives. At larger scales, patterns emerge which cannot always be seen at smaller scales. Areas of departure are not always where expected. By working on a landscape-scale, a more objective look at the ecosystem is possible. 9. Treatment projects are identified for the area with the ultimate goal of long-term restoration. Potential projects are submitted by the Partners to meet their management objectives. Projects are screened to determine if they meet the desired mosaic objectives – and modified as necessary or deemed unfeasible. Project designs are modified where possible to address multiple interests – e.g. mule deer habitat in a WUI project. Active AND passive management opportunities are identified. 10. Successful landscape restoration is achieved. Collaboration leads to diverse approaches, project design, and projects addressing multiple issues. Landscape-scale approach leads to new projects designed to meet ecological needs and management objectives simultaneously.