The Albuquerque Forestry Sciences Laboratory lab employs six
scientists and a variety of technical and post-doctoral support
with expertise in such areas as wildlife biology, ecology, range
science, botany, fisheries research, and archaeology and
anthropology. The lab conducts research in two primary areas: -
southwestern grasslands and riparian ecosystems and -
restoration and sustainability of the Middle Rio Grande Basin
ecosystem. The city of Albuquerque sits at an elevation of 5,000
feet in the Rio Grande Valley. Albuquerque lab scientists are
engaged in evaluating how fire and climate change affect
conditions of southwestern grasslands and maintain the diversity
of native plant species while controlling invasive and woody
plant species. Research also focuses on the effects of
prescribed and wild fires as well as fuel removal on riparian
ecosystems, water quality, and plant and animal species. In
addition, social science researchers at the lab are examining
public preferences concerning Forest Service fir