Skip to main content

Increase the competitive ability of western larch and its resilience to changing fire regimes

vegetation icon

Approach

Increase the competitive ability of western larch and its resilience to changing fire regimes.

Tactics

  • Create gaps in forests to reduce competition and increase larch vigor
  • Regenerate larch with appropriate site preparation (e.g., prescribed burning, followed by planting); create appropriate fire regime and fuel loads.
  • Promote age class and structural diversity across the landscape, through regeneration harvest, thinning, prescribed fire, and wildland fire use.
  • Monitor establishment and survival of western larch by age class across different site types.
  • Maintain and promote large diameter western larch across the landscape, so that large diameter snags, larch seed sources, and wildlife habitats are also maintained.

Sensitivity

Strategy

Halofsky, J.E.; Peterson, D.L.; Ho, J.J.; Little, N.J.; Joyce, L.A., eds. (2018). Climate change vulnerability and adaptation in the Intermountain Region. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-375. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station., Halofsky, J.E.; Peterson, D.L., eds. (2017). Climate change vulnerability and adaptation in the Blue Mountains. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-939. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station., Peterson, D.L.; Halofsky, J.E. (2018). Adapting to the effects of climate change on natural resources in the Blue Mountains, USA. Climate Services. 10: 63–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cliser.2017.06.005., Halofsky, J.E.; Warziniack, T.W.; Peterson, D.L.; Ho, J.J. (2017). Understanding and managing the effects of climate change on ecosystem services in the Rocky Mountains. Mountain Research and Development. 37: 340–352. https://doi.org/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-16-00087.1.

RELATED TO THIS APPROACH:

Resource Area

Relevant Region

Northern Plains
Northwest