Abstract

Joshua Tree National Park Tree Mortality Assessment
Track: Parks, Natural Reserves, Fisheries, and Wildlife Management
Authors: Benjamin Hamada

Field reconnaissance indicated that the mortality of various tree species including the California juniper, pinyon pine, and scrub oak was occurring at the highest elevations of Joshua Tree National Park(JTNP). Due to the vast extent of JTNP, it is difficult to access many of the areas at risk. These factors make it problematic to scale the magnitude of mortality among the tree species. With a GIS, remote sensing data was used to map out the spatial patterns that coincide with the dilemma.