Land managers are currently exploring rehabilitation methodologies. The major risk to juniper woodlands and surrounding communities is, of course, the continued expansion of the community and the increase in trees per acre. Dominance of juniper will cause losses of the communities it invades. There is a risk to biodiversity on these areas and most importantly the risk of soil loss that will negate the opportunity to restore native communities. As the native understory declines, there is the opportunity for invasion of exotic annuals that require less soil moisture and can, therefore survive with the junipers.
Watershed integrity is at risk.
This has severe implications to stream flow, water quality, riparian habitat and associated fish and wildlife habitats. Almost important as the lack of control of invasive juniper, is the potential for improper control. Native stands of junipers often exist interspersed with invasive trees. Native junipers are some of the oldest trees in Oregon and are an important component of natural landscapes. Ecosystem goods and services within juniper woodlands important to humans are the same as the sagebrush steppe.