GILA - ALDO LEOPOLD WILDERNESS

The Gila-Aldo Leopold Wilderness in west-central New Mexico experiences a summer monsoonal precipitation pattern. Annual precipitation is low, and a rainy season typically begins at the end of July. We buffered the 226,000 ha (558,000 acre) Gila and 81,800 ha (202,000 acre) Aldo Leopold designated Wilderness areas to obtain a study area of 576,000 ha (1.4 M acres). The area ranges in elevation from 1380m to 3310m (4,510 to 10,860 feet) and features steep mountains, rough deep canyons, flat mesas, large river channels and flood plains. Vegetation ranges from desert scrub at the lowest elevations, through pinon-juniper woodlands and ponderosa pine and Douglas fir forests at middle elevations, to subalpine forests at the highest elevations. The Gila National Forest, which manages these wilderness areas, experiences the highest fire occurrence nationwide. In the 10 year period from 1988 to 1998, approximately 67,923 ha (167,711 acres) have been managed with the use of fire. Fire management objectives are to return fire to its natural role in the wilderness ecosystem to the maximum extent possible, consistent with safety of persons, property, and other resources. The risks and consequences of wildland fire within wilderness, or escaping from wilderness are to be reduced to an acceptable level. The beauty and significance of this area was recognized in the early 20th century and, through a desire to protect it, well-intentioned if misguided management practices were implemented. One of these well-intention practices was the policy of extinguishing all fires because fire was seen as a destructive force with no redeeming qualities. As we have had more opportunity to study the process of fire we have come to realize that not only does fire have redeeming qualities, it is absolutely necessary for the maintenance of many plant and animal species. The US Forest Service has since recognized the importance of fire as a natural process in maintaining ecosystems. Today, the Gila NF employs Wildland Fire Use (WFU), in which naturally ignited wildfires are allowed to burn in designated areas under prescribed conditions.

The Gila and Aldo Leopold Wilderness areas were selected for this study based on the availability of data, the existence of a fire management plan that includes WFU as an option and size and remoteness of the wilderness areas, characteristics which are conducive to the implementation of WFU. In addition, one of the forest-wide goals for the Gila NF as listed in the 'Draft 2004 Fire Management Plan' is to "Restore functionality to fire adapted ecosystems".