I am a biologist employed since 1992 by the Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS), Forestry Sciences Lab. The mission of this work unit, RM-4151 ìEcology and Management of Northern Rocky Mountain Forestsî, is to integrate knowledge about forest ecology and silvicultural practices into management guidelines needed to sustain ecosystem integrity, improve forest health, and enhance social values in landscapes. Specifically, I have been involved with the development and technology transfer of a simulation modeling system called SIMPPLLE (Simulating Patterns and Processes at Landscape scaLEs) which uses landscape level vegetation data, linked to GIS, to dynamically model vegetation change as a result of interacting disturbance processes and management actions.

For the past 8 years I have worked with land managers and researchers in the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, focusing on helping resource managers to visualize the effects of management alternatives on attaining desired future conditions across large landscapes over time. However, it has become clear that there is a need to better communicate ecological interactions and the implications of management activities to all associated stakeholders on a given landscape. I would like to use ecological models like SIMPPLLE as well as GIS as tools for more effective public-private collaboration. I am proposing a doctoral study emphasizing a social perspective in the ecology and management of landscapes that would focus on integrating our current understanding of ecological change and management principles with place-based social and economic values.

2004. The U of M, Missoula, MT
Forestry

1995 - 1998 The University of Montana, Missoula, MT
Master of Science, Resource Conservation

1991 - 1995 The University of Montana, Missoula, MT
Bachelor of Arts, Biology
Emphasis in Environmental Biology

Chew, J.D., C. Stalling, and K. Moeller. 2004. Integrating knowledge for simulating vegetation change at landscape scales. Western J. App. For. 19(2): 102-108.

Chew, J., J.G. Jones, C. Stalling, J. Sullivan, and S. Slack. Combining simulation and optimization for evaluating the effectiveness of fuel treatments for four different fuel conditions at landscape scales. Pp. 35-36. In: Arthaud, G.J. and T.M. Barrett (technical compilers). 2003. Systems Analysis in Forest Resources: Proceedings of the Eighth Symposium, held September 27-30, 2000, Snowmass Village, Colorado, and U.S.A. Volume 7 of the Managing Forest Ecosystems series. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers. 326 p.

Stalling, C.M. 1999. A Sensitivity Analysis of the SIMPPLLE Model on Lubrecht Experimental Forest, Western Montana. Thesis, University of Montana, Missoula. 137 p.

Stalling, C.M. 1996. Botanical Reconnaissance of Carlton Ridge Research Natural Area. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Research Note INT-RN-431.

Stalling, C.M., B. Bollenbacher, and J. Chew. April 2004. Simulating the impact of acres burned on goals for sustainable forest management. Paper presented at the Second Symposium on Fire Economics, Planning and Policy: A Global View. April 19-22, Cordoba, Spain.

Stalling, C.M. March 2003. From SILC to SIMPPLLE: Preparing data for model analysis. Paper presented at the Regional Training Academy, U of M campus, Missoula, MT.

Greg, J., J. Chew, R. Silverstein, C. Stalling, J. Sullivan, J. Troutwine, D. Weise, and D. Garwood. 2002. Spatial analysis of fuel treatment options for chaparral on the Angeles National Forest. Paper presented at 2002 fire conference: Managing Fire and Fuels in the Remaining Wildlands and Open Spaces of the Southwestern United States. December 2-5, San Diego, California.

Chew, J. and C. Stalling. April 2001. SIMPPLLE: A model for simulating patterns and processes at landscape scales. Poster presented at Rocky Mountain Research Station All-Scientist Meeting. Salt Lake City, UT.