Visitors to the Bighorn Mountains will now have an easier way to learn about the importance of aspen trees.

Personnel from Wyoming State Forestry, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the Bighorn National Forest, Bureau of Land Management and the nonprofit Society of American Foresters recently installed interpretive signs near aspen regeneration projects on federal and state lands, describing aspen regeneration and management methods used to protect young aspen.

Although they make up a very small part of the total number of trees, foresters say aspen are a critical piece of the ecosystem of the Bighorn Mountains. They are essential in riparian areas, as part of tree diversity, and for wildlife habitat.

Regeneration of aspen generally involves forest management, such as prescribed fires and tree cutting; the effort is often hindered by browsing from wildlife and domestic livestock. Forest managers use creative methods such as jackstrawing and hinge cutting in young aspen stands to prevent browsing and allow the aspen to reach a size where they can survive nibbles from passing animals.

One of the new signs is located on the U.S. Forest Service Sourdough Road (No. 22), another is located along the Youth Camp Access Road and the third is located at the Steamboat Point parking area along U.S. Highway 14. All locations were selected due to their viewpoints and popularity with the public.

“These projects are excellent examples of good forest management that helps to enhance and restore aspen,” Kelly Norris, District 5 District Forester from Buffalo. “The educational signs provide a great opportunity for land managers to provide accessible education to the public right at the project site and showcases the cooperation between multiple land management agencies to achieve this work. These organizations continue to look for opportunities to promote and interpret sound forest management practices.”

The Society of American Foresters is a national organization of natural resource professionals that promotes “scientific management of our forest resources for the greatest good, for the greatest number, for the long run.”