MANAGING COARSE WOODY DEBRIS IN FORESTS OF THE ROCKY-MOUNTAINS

Coarse woody debris is a major component of Rocky Mountain forests. De bris has many functions ranging from soil protection to wildlife and m icrobial habitat. The management of coarse woody debris is critical fo r maintaining functioning ecosystems in the Rocky Mountains. These for ests have great diversity, with each forest habitat type developing an d retaining different amounts of debris. Fourteen habitat types were e xamined, ranging from ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) habitat types o f Arizona to subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) habitat types of western Montana. Coarse woody debris management recommendations were develope d by using ectomycorrhizae as a bioindicator of healthy, productive fo rest soils. These recommendations are intentionally conservative to en sure that enough organic matter is available after timber harvest to m aintain long-term forest productivity.