Wildfires had an essential part of in the ecology of many of New Mexico’s biotic communities prior to Euro-American settlement. Whether lightning-caused or started by native peoples, wildfires were once quite common occurrences throughout the grasslands and forests of the region. These frequent fires maintained an open forest structure in the ponderosa pine forests and prevented tree encroachment into the grasslands.
A century of fire suppression and grazing in the Southwest has significantly decreased the incidence of low-intensity natural surface fires, while the number of catastrophic wildfires in the region's forests has increased dramatically, especially during recent drought conditions.
For more information, visit the following links:
Changed Southwest Forests - How vegetative changes affect resource values and actions to avoid future negative consequences in our southwest forests.
