Reforestation tool for tree mortality in postfire reforestation framework for national forests in California

Authors: STEELE, ZACHARY - University Of California, Davis; MEYER, MARC - Us Forest Service (FS); NORTH, MALCOLM - Us Forest Service (FS); WUENSCHEL, AMARINA - Us Forest Service (FS); Ostoja, Steven

Submitted to: Forest Service General Technical Reports
Publication Type: Government Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2021
Publication Date: 2/1/2021
Citation: Steele, Z., Meyer, M., North, M., Wuenschel, A., Ostoja, S.M. 2021. Reforestation tool for tree mortality in postfire reforestation framework for national forests in California. Forest Service General Technical Reports. Appendix 7:pp 191-192.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Recent drought and bark beetle outbreaks in California have resulted in substantial impacts to forest ecosystems throughout the state, with thousands of acres in need of restoration or reforestation. This user-friendly, Web-based decision support tool is designed to assess priority areas for reforestation activities where tree mortality is high within the national forests of the Sierra Nevada bioregion. The tool consists of three components: (1) spatial prioritization tool, (2) stand data summary tool, and (3) reforestation best management practices guide. The spatial prioritization tool allows the user to view data layers related to tree mortality, forest type,mechanical treatment opportunities, fire severity, and other relevant datasets (e.g., wildland-urban interface, wildlife habitat, and landscape management units). This tool permits users to select their geographic area of interest (national forest or district), relevant data layers, and the relative importance of individual data layers. The tool identifies areas of low, moderate, and high reforestation priority in either map, summary table, or raster datasets that can be further analyzed in Geographic Information System (GIS) if desired.