On three days in late September, approximately 90 students
from the AP Environmental Science and AP Biology classes at Flagstaff High
School participated in a fire ecology and forest management research project at
Walnut Canyon National Monument. This was the 2nd year students
participated in this real world research project in partnership with the
National Park Service.
Walnut Canyon National Monument resource managers are
currently inventorying the entire forest on the monument in attempt to assess
the forest structure and catastrophic fire risk to protect natural and cultural
resources. The eventual goal is to develop a forest management plan that
restores the natural historic structure of the Ponderosa pine forest, as well
as, the historic fire regime of small scale ground fires which promotes
increased biodiversity on the forest floor, while simultaneously protecting the
myriad of archeological sites on the monument.
Future forest management may include thinning projects,
prescribed burns, and managed natural fires. But, to maintain the large fire
resistant trees on the landscape, forest managers need to know the location and
density of the large trees and whether ladder fuels are present that would risk
small scale ground fires getting into the forest canopy.
The National Park Service Ranger Steven Rossi and Americorps Vista volunteer Megan Carmel came into the
AP classes at Flagstaff High School the week prior to the surveys to do a
presentation on the historic forest structure and fire regimes of the region
and then to do an onsite training of how to conduct the surveys using trees on
the FHS campus.
The next week, these students began surveying trees in the
backcountry of the monument. Students worked in groups 3-4 surveying specific
transects. Students would identify Ponderosa pine trees larger than 15” in
diameter using a DBH tape. Once identified, students would GPS the location of
these large trees, determine whether down and dead debris lay under its canopy,
and determined whether ladder fuels from nearby vegetation and trees existed
that would allow a ground fire to climb up into the canopy. They also took note
of any markers, tags, or cultural resources that would be of concern to monument
resource managers.
2: Students measuring the diameter of a tree with a DBH tape and GPS'ing the location |
Students had an amazing time being able to use real world
field experiences in a service learning environment. There was a great feeling
of satisfaction knowing that their work will be used by actual land managers to
make forest management decisions. They also enjoyed the opportunity to eat
lunch perched on the sides of Walnut Canyon, taking in the natural beauty,
instead of being stuck inside a classroom.
3: Students enjoying lunch on the edge of Walnut Canyon |
The goal is to continue the partnership between the AP
Academy at Flagstaff High School and the National Park Service well into the
future with future forest surveys planned, as well as, the opportunity to work
on invasive species management and other projects at other Flagstaff area parks
as well.
Thank you to the AP educators and to the National Park Service for providing this relevant real-world experience for our students. Congratulations to the students for your service in helping resource managers with this important work.
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