[PCA] SL Trib 9/18/07 article - ongoing discussion re: fire/reseeding issues

[Addsum-Tony Frates]

Just to follow recent discussions relating to this controversial 
topic:

See:

http://www.sltrib.com//ci_6923336


Hardy shrub out, more flammable grasses in
Could BLM's choice for reseeding scorched rangelands trigger more 
wildfires?
By Dawn House 
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 09/18/2007 06:54:26 AM MDT


"Federal land managers are planning to reseed central Utah's charred 
rangelands with grasses that can perish in wildfires, while shelving 
the one species that can protect plants from flames. "


Other clips:

"The BLM is ignoring years of research," said Jerry Chatterton, who 
retired as director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Research 
Service lab in January. "It's a big reason why I retired." 

"Scientists at the federal research lab in Logan have advised that 
land managers use a 75 percent mix of kochia, Siberian crested 
wheatgrass and Russian wildrye, all listed as nonnative. Instead, 
federal land mangers will be reseeding only with grasses in a mix 
that includes 30 percent native species. "

"Richard Mayol, spokesman for the environmental group Grand Canyon 
Trust, said land mangers should use extreme caution in planting 
nonnative species such as forage kochia and the approved grasses, 
'because there could be unintended consequences.' "




Tony Frates
Utah Native Plant Society
http://www.unps.org
http://www.utahrareplants.org