Restoring Native Monterey Pine Forests in the Presence of an Exotic Pathogen

On the Monterey Peninsula, many native stands of Monterey pine are overmature, largely as a result of fire suppression. In addition, the pathogen that causes pitch canker has recently been introduced and is now well established. Management practices aimed at increasing natural regeneration will convert these forests to younger age classes in which ecological and evolutionary processes are optimized within the constraints imposed by fire suppression, pitch canker, and occupation of the forest by humans.