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Regional Fire Planning: Future Directions in the
Malpai Science and Resource Management
Programs
Larry S. Allen, Malpai Borderlands Coordinator, Coronado National
Forest, Tucson, AZ
Historical Role of Fire in the Borderlands
It has been well documented at this conference and in the literature that natural fire has been a significant influence in developing current landscapes and biotic
comn1unities of the Borderlands (Swetnam, et. al. 1996). With the exception of a
brief 100-year interlude, fires have frequently impacted these ecosystems and it is
logical to assume that all native species have evolved with a great deal more fire
than in the recent past.
Since about the turn of the century, a combination of fuels modification by
livestock grazing and agency suppression has excluded most fires from the region
(Allen, 1996 ). Partly as a result of encouragement from the Malpai Group, all
local agencies are currently using a "confine, contain" strategy of fire suppression
and several prescribed burns have been accomplished in the area. The 1995 Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy and Program Review encourages federal
agencies to reexamine their approach to fire management and suppression.
Species Management vs. Ecosystem Management
Certain parts of the Endangered Species Act have been interpreted to require
a single-species approach to preserving threatened and endangered species. Proponents of this viewpoint advocate a species-by-species analysis of effects of any
proposed management action, without consideration of broader ecological impacts. This can lead to interesting paradoxes. For example, proponents of the
Mexican Spotted Owl often advocate total protection of forests from disturbing
factors such as fire and timber harvest. This produces a thick, old growth forest
(for a while) and is totally detrimental to habitats for many special interest species,
including the prey of the Mexican wolf and jaguar.
We, in the Malpai Borderlands Group, believe in an ecosystem-based approach
to all land n1anagement decisions. The basic philosophy is that "if we take care of
the ecosystem, the species will take care of themselves." Habitat quality for all
species of native wildlife and plants can best be maximized through the great
degree of biodiversity that results from the natural role of fire in the ecosystem. It
is neither practical nor desirable to attempt to restore some myiliical pre-Columbian
condition; but the restoration of natural ecological processes is an attainable and
worthy goal.
USDA Forest Service Proceedings RMRS-P-10. 1999.
125
Regional Fire Planning: Future Directions in the Malpai Science and Resource Management Programs
Allen
The Malpai Science and Resource Management Effort
As the various partners in the Malpai Borderlands Group have strove to sustain open space and healthy ecosystems through profitable rural enterprises, barriers have arisen involving perceived impacts on environmental values. A great deal
of time, resources, and emotion has been invested in satisfying the many concerns
about potential impacts on endangered species and other environmental parameters. If ecosystem management on this million-acre area is to move forward,
more efficient ways of addressing these many concerns must be developed. A programmatic approach to planning and environmental analysis shows promise to
simplify these processes. A similar ecosystem approach to endangered species evaluations would also be of great benefit. A current climate of distrust among disciplines and between agencies is a major detriment to innovative management for
the Region. The Malpai Borderlands Group has the potential to bring the many
factions together in a spirit of collaboration, but this will require a willingness to
compromise and re-evaluate positions on everyone's part.
The Malpai science effort will, of necessity, continue to focus on effects of fire
and grazing on special interest species of plants and animals. As the regional fire
plan is completed, emphasis will shift from planning and evaluation to monitoring. Careful monitoring of the results of management will contribute greatly to
future planning. Only through adaptive managetnent can we expect to positively
impact such a large, complex landscape.
In addition to a continuing investigation of ecological/biological factors, we
must find better ways to address the social/political forces that have such a great
impact on management of natural resources throughout the west. Any movement
toward a more enlightened fire management policy will require acceptance, not
only by the myriad of regulatory agencies, but also by the many interested publics
of the region.
Bibliography
Allen, Larry S. 1996. Ecological role of fire in the Madrean Province. Pages 5 through 10 in
Effects of fire on Madrean Province ecosystems. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report
RM-GTR-289. Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Ft. Collins, CO.
New Mexico State Forester. 1997. Bootheel fire management plan. Socorro, NM.
Swetnam, Thomas N. and Christopher H. Baisan. 1996. Fire histories of montane forests in
the Madrean Borderlands. In proceedings of the symposium on effects of fire on Madrean Province
ecosystems. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report RM-GTR-289. Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Ft. Collins, CO.
USDA; USDI. 1995. Federal wildland fire management policy and program review. Washington.
126
USDA Forest Service Proceedings RMRS-P-10. 1999.