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the critical ecosystem functions that take place below-ground. Decomposing 

 fungi and bacteria recycle nutrients into the soil where other microorganisms 

 transform this organic material to available nitrogen and mineral resources for 

 higher plants. Mycorrhizal fungi associated with tree roots aid in the uptake of 

 phosphorus and water, while symbiotic bacteria in the roots of understory 

 shrubs and herbs form special nodules that can fix nitrogen from the 

 atmosphere, effectively providing their own source of fertilizer. All of these 

 multiple levels of biological activity must operate in an intact ecosystem if they 

 are to continue as they have before the advent of human activities in the Sierra 

 Nevada. 



Ecosystem Perspectives on Giant Sequoia Management 



# 



Modern Ecosystem Ecology has provided a strong empirical and theoretical 

 framework to demonstrate the importance of a broad ecosystem perspective at 

 the landscape level in managing natural resources. If our goal is to maintain 

 the dynamic structure and ecological function of processes in Giant Sequoia / 

 mixed conifer ecosystems of the Sierra Nevada, we must appreciate the 

 complexities of ecosystem interactions that occur and understand the important 

 interactions of both biotic and abiotic factors/ Many of these critically important 

 ecosystem factors operate at very large landscape levels, well beyond the 

 boundaries of small groves. Drought, beyond our control at this stage, can 

 affect the entire Sierra Nevada. Fires may occur as local impacts, or interact 

 with conditions of drought or heavy fuel accumulation to be broad landscape 

 events. The extent, frequency, and intensity of fires may all have profound 

 effects on the structure of these ecosystems. Even within smaller landscapfe 

 units such as Giant Sequoia groves, ecosystem conditions are not 

 homogeneous, but rather mosaics of small areas of varying stand structure and 

 age. This structural inhomogeneity is a key element of biodiversity and stability 

 of the Giant Sequoia / mixed conifer ecosystem. 



There is no serious scientific opinion suggesting Giant Sequoia / mixed conifer 

 ecosystems can be effectively managed as "museum preserves" protected from 

 human manipulations. No management is bad management. Enlightened and 

 active resource management is of critical importance in restoring and 

 maintaining the mix of natural processes of ecosystem dynamics that existed 

 before the influence of Western Civilization, and this management must include 

 effective programs of prescribed burns to restore and maintain natural mosaics 

 of fire intensity and stand stmcture within the groves as well as surrounding 

 areas. Small Giant Sequoia groves cannot be appropriately managed as 

 separate entities, but must be considered within the framework of broader 

 landscape units. 



Both within and beyond the time-frame of human history in California, we know 

 that Giant Sequoia groves have not been static entities. Paleoecological 

 records of climatic cycles over the past 2,000 years are evident in the growth 

 records interpreted from tree rings of Giant Sequoias. Fire frequencies and 

 intensities have changed sharply from century to century or even decade to 



