Zion Canyon.com Presents Zion National Park Guide

Native Plant Restoration
Over 100 species of plants growing in Zion National Park did not occur here until European settlement in the mid 1800s. Resource managers are actively removing the most aggressive non-native species. Additionally, through a generous grant from the National Park Foundation and the Canon Corporation, the park will be constructing a greenhouse and nursery where native plants will be grown for restoration projects. Campers in Watchman Campground loop D will notice colored circles on the ground. They mark the spot where a native plant has been carefully planted. Please help us in this restoration by walking only on pavement or designated trails.

Virgin River Habitat Restoration
Along the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, wire cages are visible near the Virgin River. The natural riparian vegetation, such as willows and young cottonwoods, is lacking along much of the river. To restore this habitat the park is planting willow and cottonwood. The cages protect the plants from wildlife who enjoy the fresh young shoots. After the plantings reach a sustainable size the cages will be removed.

Fire in Zion
Fire is a natural part of the environment, as natural as a storm or a strong wind. It has been an integral part of shaping the landscape over the millennia in every way from helping to select the plants you see to aiding the erosion processes which created Zion Canyon.

•Over the last 150 years humans have tried to manage the land in different ways, always trying to balance our needs with what is best for the ecosystem. At Zion people have logged, grazed, farmed, lived on the land and suppressed fires as a part of these practices. Each activity had its own impact and these impacts can still be seen today. Since this land became a National Park, our needs and priorities for it have changed. We have learned a great deal about the long term impacts of our practices in the past and are trying to reduce them wherever possible. The wise use of fire is an important tool in this effort.
•Though fire histories done in and near the park have shown that fire is an important part of Zion’s natural history, for many years people have feared and suppressed it. This has led to an accumulation of litter on the forest floor which would fuel a fire at a higher intensity than in the days before fire suppression. Higher intensity fires present hazards to the plants, animals, soils, and humans living in these areas. They are also more dangerous and costly to manage or suppress, which can present a hazard to the firefighters and taxpayers alike!
•The Zion Fire Management Program uses fire and other management techniques to help reduce these hazards and restore balance to our ecosystems.

Managing Wildland Fires
Fires have burned on the plateaus above Zion Canyon for millions of years. Ponderosa pine forests are sustained by fires which usually start from lightning strikes. All fires were considered destructive until recently and were put out, creating unnatural changes in the forest ecosystem. To return forests to a more natural state, managers now use fire as a tool. Since 1991 almost 10,000 acres have been burned in the park. All fires are closely monitored to learn more about their ecological importance and to insure visitor safety.

•Fire is a natural part of the environment, as natural as a storm or a strong wind. It has been an integral part of shaping the landscape over the millennia in every way from helping to select the plants you see to aiding the erosion processes which created Zion Canyon.
•Over the last 150 years humans have tried to manage the land in different ways, always trying to balance our needs with what is best for the ecosystem. At Zion people have logged, grazed, farmed, lived on the land and suppressed fires as a part of these practices. Each activity had its own impact and these impacts can still be seen today. Since this land became a National Park, our needs and priorities for it have changed. We have learned a great deal about the long term impacts of our practices in the past and are trying to reduce them wherever possible. The wise use of fire is an important tool in this effort.
•Though fire histories done in and near the park have shown that fire is an important part of Zion’s natural history, for many years people have feared and suppressed it. This has led to an accumulation of litter on the forest floor which would fuel a fire at a higher intensity than in the days before fire suppression. Higher intensity fires present hazards to the plants, animals, soils, and humans living in these areas. They are also more dangerous and costly to manage or suppress, which can present a hazard to the firefighters and taxpayers alike!
•The Zion Fire Management Program uses fire and other management techniques to help reduce these hazards and restore balance to our ecosystems.
More information on fires

Plants
Located on the Colorado Plateau, but bordering the Basin and Range Province, Zion is home to plants from both regions. Sedimentation, uplift, and erosion have resulted in elevations ranging from 3600 to 8700 feet. The unique geology of massive cliff walls has created such diverse environments as: deserts, canyons, slickrock, hanging gardens, riparian, and high plateaus. Zion National Park contains 900-plus plant species. Below is a list of some of the more common species.

•To help you identify Zion‘s plants, the naturalist staff recommends beginning with the following books, available at the Visitor Centers:
•Wildflowers of Zion National Park, S. L. Welsh
•Plants of Zion National Park, R. Nelson (reference copy only)
•Shrubs and Trees of the Southwest Deserts, J. E. Bower