Restoration
Whitebark Pine Restoration Fund
Goal: A primary mission of the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation is to promote and support the restoration of our diminishing whitebark pine communities. Donations and gifts to The Whitebark Pine Restoration Fund specifically fund whitebark pine restoration projects, such as the competitive restoration initiative that the WPEF held in 2004-05. Membership dues by and large go to support the production of Nutcracker Notes and the extremely modest overhead required to run the WPEF. The Whitebark Pine Restoration Fund allows members to contribute beyond the membership dues to help the WPEF realize its mission, and also enables donors to contribute specifically to restoration. We are currently working out a partnership with The National Arbor Day Foundation for a future competitive restoration initiative, funded in part by contributions to this fund.
How to contribute: We would encourage members and other supporters of the WPEF to help us kick off this fund with a contribution. Please make your contribution out to the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation, with the notation “for The Whitebark Pine Restoration Fund,” and send it to the WPEF, P.O. Box 16775, Missoula, MT 59808. Many thanks!
Restoration strategies
The purpose of restoration treatments is to establish new generations of whitebark pine on the landscape, either through natural regeneration or management planting. The primary goal is to increase the representation of trees genetically resistant to white pine blister rust over time. Current whitebark pine restoration protocols are generally comprised of the following four strategies, which are also applicable to other high elevation white pines:
1) Surveying and monitoring blister rust infection levels, damage, and mortality. Permanently marked survey and monitoring transect plots, such as those following the WPEF protocol (link here), are critical to obtaining data on blister rust infection levels, damage, and mortality in whitebark pine stands. These plots should be revisited every three to five years. Compiling data from these plots and other assessments, and maintaining regional and rangewide databases, enable management units, geographic regions (e.g., national parks, national forests, or specific mountain ranges), or more local areas (e.g., forest districts) to be prioritized for restoration activities. Prioritization ensures that limited resources are allocated to the areas most in need.
2) Applying prescribed fires and/or silvicultural techniques to encourage natural whitebark pine restoration. Because of fire suppression, some whitebark pine communities are successionally advanced, particularly in the northern Rocky Mountains, but also elsewhere in the Cascade and coastal ranges. If whitebark pine seed sources are adequately healthy in these areas, then prescribed fire or some degree of silvicultural thinning is advocated to provide natural regeneration opportunities (Keane and Arno 2001). (Cautionary note: If blister rust has infected trees in the seed source, it is doubtful that most natural regeneration will survive to reach maturity. Some supplemental planting is recommended using rust-resistant seedlings.) If whitebark pine is badly damaged in the area and natural regeneration is unlikely, then potentially rust-resistant seedlings from locally identified genetically resistant trees, or rust-resistant trees from areas meeting seed transfer guidelines (Mahalovich and Dickerson 2001) must be planted (see 4 below).
3) Identifying and protecting trees with genetic resistance to blister rust. Protocols are available for the identification of potentially blister rust-resistant trees (plus trees) in infected stands (Mahalovich and Dickerson 2004). In fact, many national forest ranger districts within the range of whitebark pine in Regions I, 2, 4, and 6 have identifed these trees, which should be used as seed sources for restoration planting. Seedlings from many of these trees have been screened for blister rust resistance by Dr. Mahalovich and U.S. Forest Service colleagues at the Coeur d’ Alene Nursery in Idaho. With the threat currently posed by mountain pine beetle outbreaks, all identified trees should be protected each summer with verbenone, an anti-aggregation pheromone (Kegley and Gibson, 2004) or by spraying with carbaryl.
4) Preparing a seedbed and outplanting seedlings. In areas heavily impacted by blister rust, or blister rust and pine beetle mortality, or where old burns are not adequately regenerating, potentially rust-resistant seeds or seedlings should be outplanted, following seed transfer guidelines. In preparation for planting, successionally advanced forest must first be opened by prescribed burning and/or silvicultural thinning.
The primary goals of whitebark pine restoration are to maintain whitebark pine on the landscape and to speed up natural selection in spreading genes for resistance to the blister rust pathogen. Given the high whitebark pine mortality in the northern Rockies, it appears that natural resistance to blister rust is not common enough to depend on natural selection to save whitebark pine populations; we are faced with local if not regional extirpation in the absence of management. Furthermore, outbreaks of mountain pine beetles can kill blister rust resistant whitebark pine trees within one season.In areas heavily impacted by blister rust, or blister rust and pine beetle mortality, whiebark pine seed production is severely reduced, and natural whitebark pine regeneration is unlikely or proceeds very slowly. As a result, old burns or "nutcracker openings" may not regenerate well. Under these conditions, potentially rust-resistant seeds or seedlings must be outplanted to initiate regeneration and spread genetic resistance more rapidly. In preparation for planting, successionally advanced forest must be opened by prescribed burning and/or silvicultural thinning.
Mahalovich and Dickerson (2004) developed criteria and methods for the identification of potentially blister rust-resistant trees (plus trees) in infected stands. These trees are tested for resistance to blisterrust by exposing their seedlings to heavy spore loads under controlled conditions. Once they are shown to harbor resistance, seedlings grown from their seeds are an essentail aspect of whitebark pine restoration programs. Mountain pine beetle outbreaks currently pose a threat to the survival of these trees. All identified genetically resistant trees should be protected each summer with packets of verbenone, an anti-aggregation pheromone (Kegley and Gibson, 2004). Although not absolute protection, it improves the survival odds for these trees under most circumstances.
References
Keane, R.E., Arno, S.F. 2001. Restoration concepts and techniques. In: Tomback, D.F., Arno, S.F., Keane, R.E. (Eds.), Whitebark Pine Communities: Ecology and Restoration. Island Press, Washington, D.C., U.S.A., pp. 367-400.
Kegley, S., Gibson, K. 2004. Protecting whitebark pine trees from mountain pine beetle attack using verbenone. USDA Forest Service, Northern Region, Forest Health Protection, Report 04-8, Missoula, Montana, U.S.A.
Mahalovich, M. F., Dickerson, G.A. 2004. Whitebark pine genetic restoration program for the Intermountain West (USA). In: Sniezko, R., Samman, S., Schlarbaum, S., Kriebel, H. (Eds.),Breeding and Genetic Resources of Five-needle Pines: Growth, Adaptability and Pest Resistance, IUFRO Working Party 2.02.15, Proceedings.. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, RMRS-P-32, Ogden, UT, pp. 181-187.
