AUTHORS: Elizabeth Yohe, U.S. Forest Service - Eastern Region; Kyle Steele, U.S. Forest Service - Mark Twain National Forest; Mike Leahy, Missouri Department of Conservation; Brian Davidson, U.S. Forest Service - Mark Twain National Forest; Rebecca Landewe, U.S. Forest Service - Mark Twain National Forest; Jason Stevens, U.S. Forest Service - Eastern Region; Greg Nowacki, U.S. Forest Service - Eastern Region
ABSTRACT: The Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project (MOPWR) on the Mark Twain National Forest (MTNF) is one of 17 currently funded projects across the country supported by the U.S. Forest Service Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Project (CFLRP). The project aims to restore mixed shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata)-oak (Quercus spp.) woodlands that have historically dominated this landscape. Alongside other methods, the Community Health Index (CHI) assessment was utilized to monitor restoration progress and results in this landscape. Our monitoring data suggests that we are moving selected restoration units toward more ecological functionality. However, uncertainty remains as to whether or not reference conditions are attainable, given modern-day concerns and obstacles.
