Whitebark pine in peril: a case for restoration

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Whitebark pine is a keystone species of high elevation ecosystems throughout western North America. It is often the only tree species capable of surviving in harsh subalpine areas, and is crucial in stabilizing soil and moisture, and creating habitats that support a wide diversity of plants and animals. The large seeds are a primary food source for many animals including grizzly bears and the Clark’s nutcracker which is the main seed dispersal agent. The inadvertent introduction of white pine blister rust from Europe in 1910 has resulted in severe losses in nearly all of our native five-needled pines. It has now spread to these fragile whitebark pine ecosystems where it has dramatically disrupted natural regeneration. Whitebark pine is no longer able to recover from natural disturbances such as wild fires and as a result, it has already disappeared from up to 98 percent of parts of its historic range. The urgency of the situation has recently increased due to outbreaks of mountain pine beetle which may kill trees that harbor natural resistance to blister rust. Without direct intervention, the prognosis is bleak. The ultimate goals of conservation and restoration are to protect and enhance existing populations, provide appropriate regeneration opportunities and increase the proportion of trees with natural resistance that will survive in the presence of white pine blister rust. Successful restoration will require a range-wide coordinated multi-agency effort with a long-term commitment. Successful range-wide restoration strategies will provide support to regional and site-specific strategies. This document describes the ecology and biology of the whitebark pine, provides a current range-wide assessment of whitebark pine heal, and explores what can be done for the species. It provides a brief guide for managers for selecting restoration strategies and describes information needs for and challenges involved in restoring this imperiled pine.

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ELECTRONIC FILE - Ecology

Citation given in a Forest Service Proceedings document: Schwandt, J. W. 2006. Whitebark pine in peril: a case for restoration. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Report R1-06-28.

SWAP (2/19/2016) citation: Schwandt J. 2006.
Schwandt J. 2006. Whitebark pine in peril: a case for restoration. Missoula (MT): US Forest Service, Forest Health Protection. 20 p. Report No.: R1-06-28. [accessed 2015 Dec 14]. http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5341409.pdf