Changes in Redberry Juniper Distribution in Northwest Texas (1948 to 1982)

A Redberry juniper is a basal-sprouting, evergreen conifer that occurs in west and northcentral Texas, southwestern Oklahoma, southeastern New Mexico, and northeastern Mexico (Adams and Zanoni 1979). A distribution map, based on a 1948 Soil Conservation Service (SCS) survey of all juniper (cedar) species in Texas was prepared by Allred (1949) (Figure 1 a). A 1982 SCS survey mapped the distribution of redberry juniper, blueberry (ashe) juniper, and eastern redcedar at three density levels in Texas (SCS 1985). While techniques used for the 1948 and 1982 surveys differed, and the 1948 survey did not separate juniper by species or density, we feel a comparison of selected portions of these two maps in northwest Texas, Le. where redberry juniper is the only species present, is valid and provides a dependable indication of this species population trends.