Too many trees?

Excerpt

FOR years, people have expressed concern about the invasion of pinyon and juniper on western range-land and the need to reclaim this land for grazing. But ecologists, wildlife biologists, foresters, range conservationists, ranchers, and others strongly disagree over the removal or nonremoval of these trees.

The acreage of pinyon and juniper trees, now approaching 80 million, is definitely increasing. Awareness and diligent control have greatly reduced the number and extent of range and forest fires over the last half century. The higher risk of property damage, primarily due to the expansion of second homes, recreational cabins, and subdivisions into pinyon-juniper areas, has also increased the concern about fire.

As the acreage of trees increases, available forage decreases. Many areas become overgrazed because stocking rates are not reduced. But the problem of too many trees is not limited to the invasion of grassland. Adjoining areas of climax pinyon-juniper suffer the same fate. Lack of fires and little or no management of the overstory permits an increase in numbers of trees. Natural stands that once were open …