Stanislaus-Tuolumne Biosphere Reserve

Stanislaus-Tuolumne Biosphere Reserve
Stanislaus-Tuolumne Experimental Forest
Map showing the location of Stanislaus-Tuolumne Biosphere Reserve
Map showing the location of Stanislaus-Tuolumne Biosphere Reserve
Location Central Sierra Nevada, California, USA
Nearest town Pinecrest, Tuolumne County, California
Coordinates 38°3′N 119°57′W / 38.050°N 119.950°W / 38.050; -119.950Coordinates: 38°3′N 119°57′W / 38.050°N 119.950°W / 38.050; -119.950
Area 607 hectares (1,500 acres)
Established 1976
Governing body Stanislaus-Tuolumne Experimental Forest, United States Forest Service

The Stanislaus-Tuolumne Biosphere Reserve and Experimental Forest was a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve established 1976 and withdrawn in 2017.[1][2] It encompasses the Stanislaus-Tuolumne Experimental Forest, an experimental forest under the management of the United States Forest Service. Stanislaus-Tuolumne is located on the western slopes of the central Sierra Nevada mountains near Pinecrest, California about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) northwest of Yosemite National Park.[3] [4]

History

This 607 hectares (1,500 acres) reserve is significant for its long history of timber management research. The Stanislaus-Tuolumne was formally created as a United States Forest Service experimental forest in December 1943, though research in the area had been ongoing since the 1920s. The effort to create the Stanislaus-Tuolumne was driven by Duncan Dunning, who had been pushing for formal designation of an experimental forest on the Stanislaus National Forest since the early 1930s. The forest consists of two tracts: the 156 hectares (390 acres) Stanislaus Tract on the South Fork of the Stanislaus River and the 534 hectares (1,320 acres) Tuolumne Tract on the lower slopes of Dodge Ridge, just south of the North Fork of the Tuolumne River. Elevations range from 1,590 to 1,950 metres (5,220 to 6,400 ft).[3] The site was designated as a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1976 and was one of 17 sites withdrawn from the programme in June 2017.[2][4]

Ecology

Dominating trees in the area are ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and sugar pine (P. lambertiana). Early research included studies on reproduction, planting, pruning, slash disposal and lumber recovery. More recent studies have involved climate, insects, mistletoe, harvest cuttings, site preparation, herbicides and roots. Trees in one tract have been inventoried by stand-conditions classes within one hectare divisions, providing an excellent data base. Several plantations, areas of natural young-growth, and large blocks of diverse species and age classes which are virtually uncut, provide great potential for silvicultural and ecological research in a complex forest system.[4]

References

 This article incorporates text from a free content work. Licensed under CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0 "UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory". "Licensing page". To learn how to add open license text to Wikipedia articles, please see Wikipedia:Adding open license text to Wikipedia. For information on reusing text from Wikipedia, please see the terms of use.
 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Forest Service.

  1. ↑ UNESCO. "Biosphere Reserves: Europe & North America". Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  2. 1 2 "23 new sites added to UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves". 14 June 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Stanislaus-Tuolumne Experimental Forest". U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 "UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory: Stanislaus-Tuolumne". Retrieved 5 June 2016.
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