JACKSON - In Wyoming, state forester Bill Crapser said aspen stands, like those in other Western states, are declining as well.

"It's partially because as aspen stands get older, conifers take over aspen stands," he said. "That's just the succession of the forest."

Most of the state's aspen stands are on federal lands, so Crapser said there are "limited things we can do."

Some aspen stands are being thinned to foment new growth, and in other areas, prescribed burns can regenerate aspen stands, he said.

"The extended drought has also had an impact on overall aspen health," Crapser said.

In Aspen Alley, a stretch of aspen trees on the Medicine Bow National Forest outside Encampment and Baggs in Carbon County, trees are getting old and suffering from wind breakage and decay, Crapser said.

"Really the only thing we can do is cut down old aspen and foster new trees," he said.

In fact, of the 38 proposals to improve wildlife habitat received by the newly created Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust Board, 11 focused on aspen regeneration. The proposals would remove evergreen trees through fire or other methods to help regenerate aspen, sagebrush and other vegetation that are beneficial to wildlife.

For example, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is sponsoring a $180,000 request to go toward a $798,700 controlled burn and mechanical harvest of evergreens to rejuvenate aspen and shrubs in the Bates Creek watershed in southern Natrona County.

In all, of 31 grants were approved, and 10 of those addressed regenerating aspen stands.

Included in award-winning grants were:

$80,000 for the Bates Creek watershed project to perform mechanical harvest and prescribed fire to enhance aspen and deciduous shrubs. Sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

$50,000 for the North Laramie Range prescribed fire, to remove encroaching conifers and re-establish aspen, grassland and sagebrush habitats. Sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

$60,000 for the Maki Creek prescribed fire, to remove encroaching conifers and re-establish aspen, grassland and sagebrush habitats and to improve livestock forage. Sponsored by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

$50,000 for North Fork prescribed fire to remove encroaching conifers and help maintain and expand crucial winter habitat for bighorn sheep, elk and mule deer. Sponsored by the Shoshone National Forest.