A large whitebark pine (2021-08-01) by American ForestsAmerican Forests
One of the most important species in the western U.S. is one you probably have never seen: The scraggly whitebark pine grows only at high elevation — above 4,300 feet.
Clark's Nutcracker by Keith RoperAmerican Forests
The whitebark pine plays crucial roles for both wildlife and people. It provides food for Grizzly bears and other animals, blocks the wind so other trees can grow at high elevation, and helps ensure a sufficient water supply for human communities.
Dead whitebark pine in Glacier National Park by Glacier National Park ServiceAmerican Forests
But this vital species is declining quickly. A non-native fungus called white pine blister rust is devastating the species, along with wildfires and the mountain pine beetle, an insect that attacks the trees.
Dead whitebark pines (2015-09-18) by Richard DrokerAmerican Forests
Under normal conditions, a whitebark pine might live up to 1,000 years, but many are no longer able to hold on. The U.S. has more dead whitebark pine trees than live ones. In fact, standing dead trees give some areas a new name: “ghost forests.”
A dead whitebark pine (2021-08-01) by American ForestsAmerican Forests
In December 2022, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced it would be listing the whitebark pine as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. If not restored, whitebark pine forests will be permanently altered, impacting their ability to provide important benefits.
The devastation is particularly evident in the Crown of the Continent, an 18-million-acre region covering northern Montana, including Glacier National Park, and southern Alberta and British Columbia in Canada. The loss is estimated to be as high as 90% in some areas.
Beaverhead Mountains, Idaho (2021-08-01) by American ForestsAmerican Forests
The National Whitebark Pine Restoration Plan is a science-informed plan that was created to identify areas for restoration, including the Crown of the Continent, and prescribe activities needed to conserve whitebark pine.
Whitebark pine at Whitefish Mountain Resort, Montana (2021-02-19) by Jenny Nichols / American ForestsAmerican Forests
Partners working alongside American Forests to conserve and restore the whitebark pine include the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation, USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, numerous Tribal land managers and even ski resorts.
Whitebark pine cone by Matt LavinAmerican Forests
With a range of partners working together, we can bring whitebark pine back from the brink and ensure that it can thrive into the future.
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