William Wallace Covington
Encyclopedia
William Wallace Covington (1947, Oklahoma) is a Regent's Professor of Forest Ecology at Northern Arizona University
(NAU), and the Director of the Ecological Restoration Institute at NAU. Covington is known for his research and outreach activities on forest health and ecological restoration, drawn from his research since 1970 on the Ponderosa pine
, aspen, dry mixed conifer, and pinyon-juniper forests and woodlands of the West, particularly those that surround Flagstaff, Arizona
. He has been called perhaps the nation's most visible forest scientist, by Science magazine
.
and Texas
. His father, who died when Covington was young, instilled in his son a love and respect of nature. They spent every other weekend out of doors, living off the land. He also introduced his son to the teachings of restoration pioneer Aldo Leopold
, who became a major influence on Covington. Covington's mother was a schoolteacher, and encouraged his scholastic nature. Covington excelled at school, and received his B.A. (honors) in Biology at the University of North Texas
in 1969. He enrolled directly in medical school, with the intention of studying pediatric oncology. The emotional nature of the work took its toll, however, and he took a year's leave to teach school in Gallup, New Mexico
. He never returned to medical school. Instead, inspired by ecology classes taken as an undergraduate, he enrolled in the graduate program at the University of New Mexico
, where he earned an M.S. in ecology in 1972. Covington continued on to earn a Ph.D. in 1976 from Yale University's
Forestry Department, where Leopold studied. Covington joined the faculty at Northern Arizona University
in 1975, and began researching the ponderosa pine forests in the area. In 1996 Covington became the founder and director of the new Ecological Restoration Program, established with funding provided by the Arizona legislature to NAU. Researchers from the program began to work with land managers to design, implement, and monitor restoration treatments at a variety of sites in the West. In 2004 Congress passed PL 108-317 establishing the Ecological Restoration Institute (ERI) at NAU and sister institutes in New Mexico (the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute at Colorado State University) and New Mexico (the New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute at New Mexico Highlands University). The ERI, along with its sister institutes provides ecological restoration research, development, and outreach throughout the West, as well as work experience, formal course work, and thesis opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. Covington has been recognized as Outstanding Teaching Scholar by NAU for his dedication to involving undergraduates in his applied research projects, and bringing research results into the classroom and the field. Covington also presents invited testimony before congressional and state natural resource committees, gives presentations, and provides field trips for leaders of conservation agencies, such as the United States Forest Service
, the Bureau of Land Management
, the National Park Service
, and Washington Offices of agencies, such as the Secretary of the Interior
, and the Secretary of Agriculture.
, and use of presettlement conditions. He has introduced important theories in Ponderosa pine forest management, including a return to presettlement conditions in order to combat major fires, protect wildlife and endangered species, and increase forest health. His early work at Yale University
on organic matter in forest soils and carbon levels led to a theory known as "Covington's curve," which suggested that logged soils lost 50% of their organic matter, and hence their ecologically important loads of carbon, within 20 years. Though the applicability of the theory has been questioned, it continues to have influence in the field. For the last three decades Covington has worked tirelessly to reclaim the glory of the declining Ponderosa pine forests. His goal is to return forest structure and the density of trees to conditions approximately those of natural forests before they were disturbed by the impacts of Euro-American settlers. Research on these "presettlement conditions" led to a series of 1994 papers that present the case that many presettlement Ponderosa stands were swept regularly by cooler, low-intensity fires, making them far less dense than today's forests. In Covington's presettlement model of restoration includes establishing reference conditions, removing younger trees and accumulated ground litter, and application of controlled low-intensity fires in an attempt to reduce competition and produce forests with larger, healthier trees less prone to disease and catastrophic fires.
Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University is a public university located in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and has 39 satellite campuses in the state of Arizona. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees.As of...
(NAU), and the Director of the Ecological Restoration Institute at NAU. Covington is known for his research and outreach activities on forest health and ecological restoration, drawn from his research since 1970 on the Ponderosa pine
Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa, commonly known as the Ponderosa Pine, Bull Pine, Blackjack Pine, or Western Yellow Pine, is a widespread and variable pine native to western North America. It was first described by David Douglas in 1826, from eastern Washington near present-day Spokane...
, aspen, dry mixed conifer, and pinyon-juniper forests and woodlands of the West, particularly those that surround Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff is a city located in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2010, the city's population was 65,870. The population of the Metropolitan Statistical Area was at 134,421 in 2010. It is the county seat of Coconino County...
. He has been called perhaps the nation's most visible forest scientist, by Science magazine
Science Magazine
Science Magazine was a half-hour television show produced by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation from 1975 to 1979.The show was hosted by geneticist David Suzuki, who previously hosted the daytime youth programme Suzuki On Science...
.
Biography
Covington spent his youth in OklahomaOklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. His father, who died when Covington was young, instilled in his son a love and respect of nature. They spent every other weekend out of doors, living off the land. He also introduced his son to the teachings of restoration pioneer Aldo Leopold
Aldo Leopold
Aldo Leopold was an American author, scientist, ecologist, forester, and environmentalist. He was a professor at the University of Wisconsin and is best known for his book A Sand County Almanac , which has sold over two million copies...
, who became a major influence on Covington. Covington's mother was a schoolteacher, and encouraged his scholastic nature. Covington excelled at school, and received his B.A. (honors) in Biology at the University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
in 1969. He enrolled directly in medical school, with the intention of studying pediatric oncology. The emotional nature of the work took its toll, however, and he took a year's leave to teach school in Gallup, New Mexico
Gallup, New Mexico
- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there were 20,209 people, 6,810 households, and 4,869 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,513.7 people per square mile...
. He never returned to medical school. Instead, inspired by ecology classes taken as an undergraduate, he enrolled in the graduate program at the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
, where he earned an M.S. in ecology in 1972. Covington continued on to earn a Ph.D. in 1976 from Yale University's
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
Forestry Department, where Leopold studied. Covington joined the faculty at Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University is a public university located in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and has 39 satellite campuses in the state of Arizona. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees.As of...
in 1975, and began researching the ponderosa pine forests in the area. In 1996 Covington became the founder and director of the new Ecological Restoration Program, established with funding provided by the Arizona legislature to NAU. Researchers from the program began to work with land managers to design, implement, and monitor restoration treatments at a variety of sites in the West. In 2004 Congress passed PL 108-317 establishing the Ecological Restoration Institute (ERI) at NAU and sister institutes in New Mexico (the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute at Colorado State University) and New Mexico (the New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute at New Mexico Highlands University). The ERI, along with its sister institutes provides ecological restoration research, development, and outreach throughout the West, as well as work experience, formal course work, and thesis opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. Covington has been recognized as Outstanding Teaching Scholar by NAU for his dedication to involving undergraduates in his applied research projects, and bringing research results into the classroom and the field. Covington also presents invited testimony before congressional and state natural resource committees, gives presentations, and provides field trips for leaders of conservation agencies, such as the United States Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
, the Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
, the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
, and Washington Offices of agencies, such as the Secretary of the Interior
Secretary of the Interior
The Secretary of the Interior may refer to:* The United States Secretary of the Interior* The Secretario de Gobernación Secretary of the Interior...
, and the Secretary of Agriculture.
Work
Covington has made important contributions to the field of forest ecology in his theories of evidence based conservation, adaptive environmental assessment, ecological restorationRestoration ecology
-Definition:Restoration ecology is the scientific study and practice of renewing and restoring degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems and habitats in the environment by active human intervention and action, within a short time frame...
, and use of presettlement conditions. He has introduced important theories in Ponderosa pine forest management, including a return to presettlement conditions in order to combat major fires, protect wildlife and endangered species, and increase forest health. His early work at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
on organic matter in forest soils and carbon levels led to a theory known as "Covington's curve," which suggested that logged soils lost 50% of their organic matter, and hence their ecologically important loads of carbon, within 20 years. Though the applicability of the theory has been questioned, it continues to have influence in the field. For the last three decades Covington has worked tirelessly to reclaim the glory of the declining Ponderosa pine forests. His goal is to return forest structure and the density of trees to conditions approximately those of natural forests before they were disturbed by the impacts of Euro-American settlers. Research on these "presettlement conditions" led to a series of 1994 papers that present the case that many presettlement Ponderosa stands were swept regularly by cooler, low-intensity fires, making them far less dense than today's forests. In Covington's presettlement model of restoration includes establishing reference conditions, removing younger trees and accumulated ground litter, and application of controlled low-intensity fires in an attempt to reduce competition and produce forests with larger, healthier trees less prone to disease and catastrophic fires.
Selected publications
W.W. Covington has contributed to over 92 articles and books, which include:Books
- Covington, W.W. (2003). The Evolutionary and Historical Context for Restoration. In: Friederici, P. Ecological Restoration of Southwestern Ponderosa Pine Forests. Arizona: Arizona Board of Regents. 26-47.
- Covington, W.W. and Moore, M.M. (1994). Postsettlement Changes in Natural Fire Regimes and Forest Structure: Ecological Restoration of Old-Growth Ponderosa Pine Forests. In: Adams, D.L. and R.N. Sampson. Assessing Forest Ecosystem Health in the Inland West. Arizona: Haworth Press. 153-175.
Articles
- Noss, R.F., P. Beier, W.W. Covington, R.E. Grumbine, D.B. Lindenmayer, J.W. Prather, F. Schmiegelow, T.D. Sisk, and D.J. Vosick. 2006. Recommendations for Integrating Restoration Ecology and Conservation Biology in Ponderosa Pine Forests of the Southwestern United States. Restoration Ecology 14:4-10.
- Fulé, P.Z., J.E. Crouse, A.E. Cocke, M.M. Moore, and W.W. Covington. 2004. Changes in canopy fuels and potential fire behavior 1880-2040: Grand Canyon, Arizona. Ecological Modelling 175:231-248. Covington, W.W. 2003. Restoring ecosystem health in frequent-fire forests of the American West. Ecological Restoration 21:1: 7-11
- Covington, W.W., P.Z. Fulé, S.C. Hart, and R.P. Weaver. 2001. Modeling ecological restoration effects on ponderosa pine forest structure . Restoration Ecology 9(4):421-431.
- Covington, W.W. 2000. Helping western forests heal: The prognosis is poor for US forest ecosystems. Nature 408(6809):135-136.