Abstract:
Elevated outbreaks of mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) have occurred on national forests
across the western U.S. over the past two decades. Resulting widespread tree mortality has affected
forest health, tourism and recreation, the timber industry, public safety, and other values. There
is an ongoing need to better understand federal land management approaches to mountain pine beetle (MPB)
and other disturbances on public lands, as well as the variables that support or inhibit effective responses. This
National Science Foundation-funded research investigated MPB response through case studies on national
forestlands in five states, focusing on feedbacks between social and ecological systems during outbreaks.