Navajo Nation relies on fuelwood resources from piñon-juniper woodlands in the Four Corners region of the United States. What does changing climate mean for the future of these resources? Parameterizations of piñon pine, juniper, and other plant functional types (PFTs) are incorporated into the dynamic global vegetation model (DGVM) LPJ-GUESS to represent this ecosystem. Modern and future simulations are run to determine the estimated resource supply for the Navajo people during these periods.
Results/Conclusions
Preliminary results indicate that by the end of the century, total biomass is relatively stable though composition changes. While the biomass of pine generally decreases, juniper compensates this by increasing, but with important local differences. The results have implications for the livelihoods of people that rely on and manage these fuelwood resources, especially in the context of population changes, and could help with planning ways to adapt to or mitigate potential changes.