[PCA] Restoration Cost-Benefit Analysis in the SW

[Mccormick, Molly L]

A new paper<https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/eap.2151> was just published from the USGS Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC) based in Flagstaff. AZ. The paper is titled ¡°The biggest bang for the buck: cost-effect vegetation treatment outcomes across drylands of the western U.S.¡± The authors examined the costs and effects of treatments aimed at decreasing woody plant abundance or controlling invasive plant species in dryland ecosystems. The findings of this study provide information to resource managers that can help them identify which treatments lead to desired outcomes and are worth spending more limited resources to produce best effects.



The research is part of the Restoration and Assessment Monitoring Program for the Southwest (RAMPS; https://usgs.gov/sbsc/ramps). RAMPS works with stakeholders within the DOI and other federal and state agencies, private and tribal lands, to provide guidance and support for effective restoration strategies across the Southwest. If you are interested in more research and collaborative projects from RAMPS, you can sign up for the newsletter at this link: https://listserv.usgs.gov/mailman/listinfo/ramps.



PAPER ABSTRACT:




The biggest bang for the buck: cost-effective vegetation treatment outcomes across drylands of the western U.S.

Munson, S.M., Yackulic, E.O., Bair, L.S., Copeland, S.M., and Gunnell, K.L.


Abstract: Restoration and rehabilitation are globally implemented to improve ecosystem condition but often without tracking treatment expenditures relative to ecological outcomes. We evaluated the cost©\effectiveness of widely©\conducted woody plant and herbaceous invasive plant removals and seeding treatments in drylands of the western USA from 2004 ¨C 2018 to determine how land managers can optimize efforts. Woody plant cover decreased at a similar rate per dollar spent regardless of vegetation removal type, and the dominant invasive species was reduced by herbicide application. Relatively inexpensive herbicide application also had a large positive effect on seeded perennial grass cover that was enhanced by additional cost; while expensive woody mastication treatments had little effect regardless of additional cost. High seed cost was driven by including a large proportion of native species in seed mixes, and combined with high seeding cost, promoted a short©\term (2 ¨C 3 years) gain in perennial forb cover and species richness. In contrast, seeding and seed mix cost had no bearing on seeded perennial grass cover, in part, because relatively cheap non©\native seeded species rapidly increased in cover. Our results suggest the differential benefits of commonly implemented treatments aimed at reducing wildfire risk, improving wildlife habitat and forage, and reducing erosion. Given the growing need and cost of restoration and rehabilitation, we raise the importance of specifying treatment budgets and objectives, coupled with effectiveness monitoring, to improve future outcomes.

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Molly McCormick
RAMPS<http://www.usgs.gov/sbsc/ramps> Coordinator & Ecologist /// USGS Profile<https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/molly-mccormick?qt-staff_profile_science_products=0#qt-staff_profile_science_products>
USGS federal committee representative - Plant Conservation Alliance<https://www.blm.gov/programs/natural-resources/native-plant-communities/national-seed-strategy/pca>
Website: RAMPS<https://www.usgs.gov/centers/sbsc/science/restoration-assessment-monitoring-program-southwest-ramps-0?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects> /// Email: mmccormick at usgs.gov /// Cell: 928-821-5100 /// Office: 928-556-7305
pronouns: she/her<https://www.mypronouns.org/>
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