PROCESSING WOOD RESIDUALS IN THE SOUTHWEST.

WOOD waste; TAMARISKS; FLOODPLAINS; COTTONWOOD; GRASSLANDS; RIPARIAN areas

Before the salt cedars took hold, the flood plains of the Rio Grande River in the Southwestern United States were dominated by cottonwood/willow forests and open grasslands. Now salt cedars and other invasive trees are displacing these native species, deteriorating habitats for wildlife, depleting water and increasing the fire risk. It is an important and immediate ecological problem. Salt cedars thrive in a wide range of conditions so they are prevalent across the arid west. However, they are a particular threat to the riparian areas and flood plains in the Southwest. INSET: COMPOSITE SIGNS OF SUSTAINABILITY.