Knowledge to manage pinyon-juniper woodlands for fuels, wildlife habitat, and other values is growing.

Pinyon-juniper woodlands blanket the West

Across the Intermountain West, low mountains, foothills, and desert landscapes are blanketed by pinyon-juniper woodlands. Pinyon (Pinus edulis and Pinus monophylla) and juniper (Juniperus spp.) are the dominant species, covering over 100 million acres in total, with over 45 million acres within the IWJV boundary. Pinyon-juniper woodlands support a diverse suite of plants and wildlife species, including the Pinyon Jay. Additionally, they provide opportunities for recreation and solitude, and play a central role in cultural as well as economic drivers. Pinyon-juniper ecosystems are fundamental to the identities, ceremonies, and traditional practices of Indigenous peoples across the region, many of whom are leaders in their conservation.

Fighting fire in pinyon-juniper woodlands

In recent decades, the total area burned in pinyon-juniper woodlands has increased. Fire is a concern for this extensive ecosystem, which has many ecological and social values and is often adjacent to human communities. Although the causes of increased fire activity during this period are poorly understood, researchers believe that high tree density, invasive annual grasses, and climate change could be contributing factors.   

Unlike other dry conifer forests, many pinyon-juniper woodlands were thought to have experienced high-severity fire, although infrequently and at relatively small scales. Today, however, large fires burning at high severity are most often seen in pinyon-juniper woodlands. Large and severe fires are undesirable because they pose safety concerns for firefighters and communities, and recovery is slow, especially in an era of hotter, drier climates and invasive annual grasses.

Can active management create resilience to fire and drought?

What can be done to protect pinyon-juniper woodlands from wildfire and drought? Recently, innovative partnerships between researchers and managers have formed to test silvicultural approaches, including thinning and pile burning, as an alternative approach that builds resilience to fire and drought in pinyon-juniper woodlands. Researchers are testing whether reducing the density of woodlands makes individual trees more resilient to the effects of drought and insects. Additionally, creating breaks in woodland canopies may help reduce the spread of crown fires. 

Moving towards a spatial strategy in pinyon-juniper woodlands

The Pinyon-Juniper Woodland Project is a collaborative effort facilitated by the IWJV that brings together partners from federal, state, Tribal, NGO, and academic institutions. Together, we are working to create a biome-wide spatial framework that integrates existing data with new analyses to map the extent, condition, and ecological integrity of pinyon-juniper woodlands. This information will help identify where conservation, restoration, or fuels treatments are most needed and most likely to succeed.

The project will produce a series of spatial products and decision-support tools designed to inform planning and prioritization—from wildfire and fuels management to habitat restoration and cultural resource protection. By combining science and management expertise, the effort will help land managers navigate trade-offs, target limited resources, and build strategies that sustain the ecological and cultural values of these iconic woodlands. For more information, contact Teagan Hayes.

Building a community of practice around pinyon-juniper woodland management

As recognition of the values inherent in pinyon-juniper woodlands grows, managers need science-based information and practices to inform their work in these ecosystems. Although many knowledge gaps remain relating to pinyon-juniper woodlands, the body of information is growing rapidly—fueled by ongoing research and practical experience from land managers. Support is needed to synthesize and translate this expanding knowledge into actionable strategies on the ground. The IWJV and the Ecological Restoration Institute (ERI) at Northern Arizona University co-facilitate a community of practice focused on bridging science in the management of pinyon-juniper woodlands. Learn more about the Pinyon-Juniper Management Network!

Balancing objectives across pinyon-juniper woodland and sagebrush ecotones

With almost a decade of work to address conifer encroachment into sagebrush ecosystems, we’re familiar with the ecotone between sage and pinyon-juniper woodlands. We recognize this part of the landscape is important for many, from sage grouse to Pinyon Jays, wildlife biologists to field specialists. We work with land managers across the West to balance resource management objectives in this ecotone, where managers face increasing pressure to balance resource objectives and values. For more information on this work, contact Adrian Leighton, Western Forest Program Coordinator.