Recap: Douglas-fir Protection Project

Each May the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) enters into north-facing steep slopes all over the Upper Gunnison Basin to protect mature and old growth Douglas-fir stands from the Douglas-fir beetle. This year HCCA partnered with CSFS to coordinate two volunteer workdays on Miller Ranch State Wildlife Area and some private land.

16 volunteers assisted CSFS staff in hanging pheromone packets on the charismatic Douglas-fir trees. These packets contain Methylcyclohexanone (MCH) that disrupts the attraction of incoming Douglas-fir beetles and can be used to reduce attacks on Douglas-fir trees. The Douglas-fir beetle is the most destructive bark beetle of mature Douglas-fir forests in western North America. By protecting these native trees, volunteers helped increase the health and resiliency of the forests in the Gunnison Basin.

Volunteers helped treat 73 acres, applying 1,260 MCH packets. 

With the help of HCCA volunteers, CSFS staff were not only able to protect a larger number of Doulgas-fir trees but also remove hundreds of pheromone packets from the stands. These old packets were leftover from previous years of treatments. These Douglas-fir stands exist in transition zones from sagebrush ecosystems to upland forests, creating vibrant wildlife habitat.

Volunteers learned about cross-sector collaboration, forest and beetle ecology, and how the CSFS is actively managing forest resources to ensure healthy, resilient forests for present and future generations.