Very Low Available Water Capacity Soils on Limestone Plateaus and Escarpments
Scenario model
Current ecosystem state
Select a state
Management practices/drivers
Select a transition or restoration pathway
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Transition T1A
The Reference State (1) may transition to Cleared and Abandoned State (3) by clearing the forest, temporary cultivation of crops, abandonment, and invasion by mostly introduced species.
More details -
Restoration pathway R2A
The Cleared and Abandoned State (2) can be restored to a facsimile of Reference State (1) by brush and weed control followed by natural reseeding or active replanting of native tree
More details -
Transition T2A
The Cleared and Abandoned State (2) will transition to the Grazed Woodland State (3) by continued growth and spread of introduced and native tree species and closure of the overstory to shade out most shrubs, forbs, and grasses.
More details -
Restoration pathway R3A
The Grazed Woodland State (3) may be restored to a facsimile of the Reference State (1) by brush and weed control followed by natural reseeding or active replanting of native trees.
More details -
Restoration pathway R3B
The Grazed Woodland State (3) may be restored to the Cleared and Abandoned State (2) by clearing and abandoning the site, allowing lower-growing species that require sunlight to invade.
More details -
No transition or restoration pathway between the selected states has been described
Target ecosystem state
Select a state
Description
The Reference State (1) has two community phases consisting of diverse native forest.
Submodel
Description
The Cleared and Abandoned State (2) consists of one community phase dominated by weedy or pioneer species. It may be grazed and browsed by introduced ungulates, but forage value is low.
Submodel
Description
The Grazed Woodland State (3) consists of a variable mix of introduced tree species, sometimes with a few native species, that form a dense forest. Small Philippine acacia (Acacia confusa) and beach sheoak (Casuarina equisetifolia) may dominant; other tree species will likely find their way onto a site. Cattle may forage in these forests, but carrying capacity is low (CNMI SWARS Council, 2010; Donnegan et al., 2011; Liske-Clark, 2015; Willsey et al., 2019).
Submodel
Mechanism
The Reference State (1) may transition to Cleared and Abandoned State (3) by clearing the forest, temporary cultivation of crops, abandonment, and invasion by mostly introduced species.
Mechanism
The Cleared and Abandoned State (2) can be restored to a facsimile of Reference State (1) by brush and weed control followed by natural reseeding or active replanting of native trees.
Mechanism
The Cleared and Abandoned State (2) will transition to the Grazed Woodland State (3) by continued growth and spread of introduced and native tree species and closure of the overstory to shade out most shrubs, forbs, and grasses.
Mechanism
The Grazed Woodland State (3) may be restored to a facsimile of the Reference State (1) by brush and weed control followed by natural reseeding or active replanting of native trees.
Model keys
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The Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.