Wednesday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is listed the whitebark pine as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. That means the tree is likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future throughout its range.
Regional Director Matt Hogan said the whitebark is a keystone species of the West. He said the listing is critical to the tree itself, and the plants, animals, and watersheds that it supports.
The primary threats to whitebark pine are blister rust, a non-native fungal disease, and mountain pine beetles. Biologists are also concerned by altered wildfire patterns and climate change. Because of the conditions, scientists estimate that, at least, 51% of all standing whitebark pine trees are already dead.
Whitebarks live on more than 80 million acres in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, and Canada. In the U.S., 88% of the species range is on federal land managed by the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management.
The listing adds to efforts like that of the U.S. Forest Service in their collaboration with the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation, and American Forests to promote conservation of the species.
Diana Tomback is WPEF policy and outreach coordinator and professor of integrative biology at the University of Colorado Denver. She said, “We have the tools and capability to make populations more resilient to these threats.”
Whitebark Pine listing will aid in restoration
Tomback added that one promising work in progress is the National Whitebark Pine Restoration Plan. It’s a roadmap for restoration developed between WPEF, American Forests, US Forest Service, National Park Service, BLM, and several tribes.
“We applaud the decision by the USFWS to list whitebark pine as threatened,” said David Neale, Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation Director and emeritus professor of plant sciences at the UC, Davis. “It also brings much-needed attention to the plight of this remarkable tree and builds further public support for the challenging restoration work ahead.”
There is no designated critical habitat for this species in the listing because habitat loss is not a survival threat.
Tribes support Whitebark Pine listing
For further conservation of the species, the Service is allowing research and management on federal lands where it might otherwise be prohibited. Additionally, it allows for the collection of seeds on federal lands for Tribal ceremonial and traditional use.
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Forestry Department of Montana commended the decision listing Whitebark pine as a threatened species. They said that Native Americans continue to be stewards of the land and understand the need for balanced ecosystems.
The final rule to list the whitebark pine as a threatened species will be published in the Federal Register and available for public inspection at https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-27087.
To learn more about the whitebark pine, please visit the species profile page, additional questions and answers about the listing of this species can be found on our website: Q&As: Whitebark pine listing as Threatened.
