Ponderosa pine forests were historically shaped by frequent, low- to mixed-severity fires. Land managers and scientists are concerned that recent high-severity fires, which have left expansive treeless patches in their wake, may prevent ponderosa pine from successfully regenerating in much of its former area. RMRS scientists examined the spatial patterns of ponderosa pine regeneration following fire, as well as the influence of environmental factors, such as distance to seed source, elevation, and other vegetation, on ponderosa regeneration success

Overall, their results suggest that ponderosa pine may recover in high-severity patches that are close to surviving seed sources. But large patches far from surviving trees, especially where growing conditions are harsh, may no longer support ponderosa pine forests. These results can help managers better anticipate recovery within high-severity patches, and in turn, better determine whether tree planting treatments are needed to maintain ponderosa pine forests in the future as well as where and how to conduct them