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Mount Charleston Science Symposium: Effects of the Carpenter 1 Fire and Conserving the Rest

  • University of Nevada, Las Vegas, SEB 1311 4505 S. Maryland Pkwy. Las Vegas, NV 89154 (map)

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This symposium will bring together stakeholders to provide an overview of the state of the science in the Spring Mountains. The goal of this meeting is to raise awareness of the value and conservation needs of this unique Mojave Desert ecosystem.  Presentations will cover topics such as historical forest changes, the ecology of the mountain range’s unique butterfly communities, designing forest fuel reduction and restoration projects, effects of the Carpenter 1 Fire, and more!     

At 11,916 feet, Charleston Peak is the highest point within the Spring Mountains and part of Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, a unit of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.  Parts of the Spring Mountains are also within Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.  The Spring Mountains provide an important forested recreational resource within the Mojave Desert and habitat for the federally endangered Mount Charleston blue butterfly and a rich assemblage of other animals and plants.  Similar to many other forested mountains within dry regions, challenges to conserving ecosystems around Mount Charleston are formidable.  This was underscored by the 2013 Carpenter 1 Fire, which burned 28,000 acres. These burned acres were predominately high severity and killed trees that were dated to be over 700 years old. We can say with certainty that this type of landscape-scale severe fire was unprecedented in at least the last 700 years and likely much longer.

For questions, contact the coordinators:

Stacey Frederick, Program Coordinator, California Fire Science Consortium, ssfrederick@berkeley.edu (510-642-4934)

Scott Abella, Assistant Professor in Restoration Ecology, School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, scott.abella@unlv.edu, (702) 774-1445. 

View Event PDF Flyer and Final Program >

Registration 

Registration is now closed for this event.