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Native
Plant Restoration
Over 100 species of plants growing in
Zion National Park did not occur here
until European settlement in the mid 1800s.
Resource managers are actively removing
the most aggressive non-native species.
Additionally, through a generous grant
from the National Park Foundation and
the Canon Corporation, the park will be
constructing a greenhouse and nursery
where native plants will be grown for
restoration projects. Campers in Watchman
Campground loop D will notice colored
circles on the ground. They mark the spot
where a native plant has been carefully
planted. Please help us in this restoration
by walking only on pavement or designated
trails.
Virgin River Habitat Restoration
Along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, wire
cages are visible near the Virgin River.
The natural riparian vegetation, such
as willows and young cottonwoods, is lacking
along much of the river. To restore this
habitat the park is planting willow and
cottonwood. The cages protect the plants
from wildlife who enjoy the fresh young
shoots. After the plantings reach a sustainable
size the cages will be removed.
Fire in Zion
Fire is a natural part of the environment,
as natural as a storm or a strong wind.
It has been an integral part of shaping
the landscape over the millennia in every
way from helping to select the plants
you see to aiding the erosion processes
which created Zion Canyon.
•Over the last 150 years humans
have tried to manage the land in different
ways, always trying to balance our needs
with what is best for the ecosystem. At
Zion people have logged, grazed, farmed,
lived on the land and suppressed fires
as a part of these practices. Each activity
had its own impact and these impacts can
still be seen today. Since this land became
a national park, our needs and priorities
for it have changed. We have learned a
great deal about the long term impacts
of our practices in the past and are trying
to reduce them wherever possible. The
wise use of fire is an important tool
in this effort.
•Though fire histories done in and
near the park have shown that fire is
an important part of Zion’s natural
history, for many years people have feared
and suppressed it. This has led to an
accumulation of litter on the forest floor
which would fuel a fire at a higher intensity
than in the days before fire suppression.
Higher intensity fires present hazards
to the plants, animals, soils, and humans
living in these areas. They are also more
dangerous and costly to manage or suppress,
which can present a hazard to the firefighters
and taxpayers alike!
•The Zion Fire Management Program
uses fire and other management techniques
to help reduce these hazards and restore
balance to our ecosystems.
Managing Wildland Fires
Fires have burned on the plateaus above
Zion Canyon for millions of years. Ponderosa
pine forests are sustained by fires which
usually start from lightning strikes.
All fires were considered destructive
until recently and were put out, creating
unnatural changes in the forest ecosystem.
To return forests to a more natural state,
managers now use fire as a tool. Since
1991 almost 10,000 acres have been burned
in the park. All fires are closely monitored
to learn more about their ecological importance
and to insure visitor safety.
•Fire is a natural part of the environment,
as natural as a storm or a strong wind.
It has been an integral part of shaping
the landscape over the millennia in every
way from helping to select the plants
you see to aiding the erosion processes
which created Zion Canyon.
•Over the last 150 years humans have
tried to manage the land in different
ways, always trying to balance our needs
with what is best for the ecosystem. At
Zion people have logged, grazed, farmed,
lived on the land and suppressed fires
as a part of these practices. Each activity
had its own impact and these impacts can
still be seen today. Since this land became
a National Park, our needs and priorities
for it have changed. We have learned a
great deal about the long term impacts
of our practices in the past and are trying
to reduce them wherever possible. The
wise use of fire is an important tool
in this effort.
•Though fire histories done in and
near the park have shown that fire is
an important part of Zion’s natural
history, for many years people have feared
and suppressed it. This has led to an
accumulation of litter on the forest floor
which would fuel a fire at a higher intensity
than in the days before fire suppression.
Higher intensity fires present hazards
to the plants, animals, soils, and humans
living in these areas. They are also more
dangerous and costly to manage or suppress,
which can present a hazard to the firefighters
and taxpayers alike!
•The Zion Fire Management Program
uses fire and other management techniques
to help reduce these hazards and restore
balance to our ecosystems.
Plants
Located on the Colorado Plateau, but bordering
the Basin and Range Province, Zion is
home to plants from both regions. Sedimentation,
uplift, and erosion have resulted in elevations
ranging from 3600 to 8700 feet. The unique
geology of massive cliff walls has created
such diverse environments as: deserts,
canyons, slickrock, hanging gardens, riparian,
and high plateaus. Zion National Park
contains 900-plus plant species. Below
is a list of some of the more common species.
•To help you identify Zion‘s
plants, the naturalist staff recommends
beginning with the following books, available
at the Visitor Centers:
•Wildflowers of Zion National Park,
S. L. Welsh
•Plants of Zion National Park, R.
Nelson (reference copy only)
•Shrubs and Trees of the Southwest
Deserts, J. E. Bower
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Maps
