Restoring Colorado Front Range forests:
Ecological foundations, science communication, and shared stewardship

Mike Battaglia
U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station

Kathie Mattor
Colorado State University, Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship,
Colorado Forest Restoration Institute

 
As the U.S. Forest Service increases the pace and scale of restoration in ponderosa pine forests, there is a need for science based information to help inform these activities. While ponderosa pine forests occur throughout the Western U.S., each region has specific nuances that limits the transfer of a ‘one-size-fits-all’ management design.  At the request of the Rocky Mountain (FS Region 2) Regional Forester,

RMRS GTR-373: Principles and Practices for the Restoration of Ponderosa Pine and Dry Mixed-Conifer Forests of the Colorado Front Rangewas prepared by a diverse author group to provide local, forest science in support of Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration (CFLR) projects and other forest restoration in this region. Scientists, land managers, and stakeholders worked together to ‘co-produce’ knowledge about desired conditions, principles, and monitoring metrics which helped form the framework for restoration of low and mid-elevation ponderosa pine and dry mixed conifer forests along the Colorado Front Range.  The local science-based recommendations presented in this GTR is expected to be integrated into forest restoration planning on National Forests and along other private and public ownership along the Colorado Front Range.

In additional to bringing together many authors and stakeholders to develop a framework for forest restoration, this publication has been followed by a significant outreach effort. In our pursuit of an “All Hands, All Lands” approach to Colorado forest restoration, targeted outreach efforts and field workshops included county, state and federal land management groups, private consultants and universities. We will share the results of our evaluations of outreach efforts.

Event Co-Sponsors:

Society of American Foresters – Colorado/Wyoming Chapter

Westervelt Ecological Services

Colorado State University, Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship