Where Is Conifer Encroachment a Problem?
Encroachment of trees and other woody plants is a global phenomenon impacting rangelands from North America to Africa.
In the U.S., both the Great Plains and sagebrush country are threatened by conifer encroachment.
The map on the left depicts where trees are encroaching on core and growth opportunity sagebrush areas identified in the Sagebrush Conservation Design.
Back to the Future
Satellite-derived data and historic imagery show where trees have moved across the landscape in recent decades, highlighting where to focus conifer management. These tools inform what we want sagebrush habitat of the future to look like.
Use the slider to see how encroachment has impacted this area of Idaho.
Not Just a Great Basin Problem
Previously thought of as a Great Basin issue, data show conifer encroachment is a biome-wide challenge. According to the Sagebrush Conservation Design, encroachment is the second-leading cause of sagebrush loss today.
Some of the highest priority opportunities for proactive management in the biome are located in states like Montana and Wyoming.
The image to the right shows woody encroachment in Montana where species like Douglas fir and Rocky Mountain juniper are reducing productivity of sagebrush grasslands.
