Study Examines Forest Health in the Rockies

By Chris Jackson, 4-10-07

Forest lands in the Rockies an integral element to the scenic beauty, economy, and environmental quality of the region.  But what is the current condition of our Region’s forests?  Fire suppression and disease have resulted in over-dense and diseased stands of trees.  Compounding the dilemma, human development is encroaching forest lands; this growing region is called the Wildland Urban Interface, and it is expected to double over the next 20 years.

The 2007 State of the Rockies Report Card takes on the challenge of assessing forest health in the Rocky Mountain West.  The analysis finds that over 21 million acres of forest in the West are diseased (defined as over 25% disease presence), and presents the ten most diseased counties in terms of relative forest acres and total diseased acres.  Also included in our study of forest health is an analysis of forest fire risk around human development.  By intersecting the Wildland Urban Interface with the forest lands most departed from their natural range of variability (Fire Regime Condition Class III), we have determined the counties most susceptible to fire near human development.  Maps of diseased acres in the West, the Fire Regime Condition Class, and the Wildland Urban Interface, are located in the full State of the Rockies Report accessed through the link below.  We encourage the citizens of the Rockies to discuss the implications of these findings, as well as policies related to the management of forests in the West.

To download the full forest report (PDF), click here.