Managing Effects of Drought in California
Specific management options for addressing drought impacts vary by ecosystem (table 4.2), and in general attempt to (1) shift systems back within the natural range of variation (including disturbance regimes) to the degree possible and (2) facilitate a transition to plant species better adapted to future droughts. In forests and woodlands, drought management focuses on the use of mechanical thinning and prescribed burning both to decrease stand densities and to promote the growth and vigor of desirable tree species. In chaparral, frequent disturbances are stressors, so soil disturbances need to be limited as much as possible to reduce the spread of nonnative annuals that promote wildfres. Invasive plants are also an important problem in grasslands, where they should be removed and replaced with native grasses and forbs. In grasslands, prescribed fre may be useful to manage nonnative species and increase perennial plant cover to make grasslands more drought-resilient. In rangelands, conservative stocking rates, supplemental feeding of livestock, and resting pastures should be considered during times of drought. Many of these management strategies will also help California to reach its objective of maintaining natural and working lands within the State as carbon sinks (i.e., net zero or negative greenhouse gas emissions) (CARB 2017, Forest Climate Action Team 2018). For drought management strategies to be most effective, timely implementation is needed across large spatial scales. However, land managers and land management agencies require both political and fscal support for this proactive approach to be realistic. As the frequency and magnitude of droughts increase, our ability to better quantify and predict impacts on ecological and human systems, and to develop and implement appropriate management actions, will become more critical. This is especially true in California, where a large human population, diverse natural resources, and large agricultural and forestry sectors are all potentially vulnerable.
- Εκδότης: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service
- Δημιουργός: Fettig, Christopher J.; Wuenschel, Amarina; Balachowski, Jennifer; Butz, Ramona J.; Jacobsen, Anna L.; North, Malcolm P.; Ostoja, Steven M.; Pratt, R. Brandon; Standiford, Richard B
- Πηγή: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service
- Ιστότοπος: https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/59163
- Γλώσσα: Αγγλική
- Άδεια Χρήσης: Ελεύθερη χρήση/διανομή (public domain - open access)
- Έτος: 2019
- Βιβλιογραφία: Fettig, Christopher J.; Wuenschel, Amarina; Balachowski, Jennifer; Butz, Ramona J.; Jacobsen, Anna L.; North, Malcolm P.; Ostoja, Steven M.; Pratt, R. Brandon; Standiford, Richard B. 2019. Managing Effects of Drought in California. In: Vose, James M.; Peterson, David L.; Luce, Charles H.; Patel-Weynand, Toral, eds. Effects of drought on forests and rangelands in the United States: translating science into management responses. Gen. Tech. Rep. WO-98. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington Office. 71-93. Chapter 4
