Two pines in decline: Conservation and restoration of five-needle pines at Banff National Park

Whitebark Pine and Limber Pine play a special role in their western, high-elevation forests. These keystone species (collectively referred to as five-needle pines) support a wide variety of biodiversity and ecosystem functions. They provide shade, which slows snow melt and helps to reduce spring floods and maintain stream flow throughout the summer. Their seeds are highly nutritious and are consumed by a wide variety of wildlife throughout the fall and winter months including Clark’s Nutcrackers, Red Squirrels, Grizzly and Black Bears, and many other species. When the health of these pine trees suffers, so do the species and ecosystems they support. That’s what’s happening across all the mountain national parks. Jasper, Mount Revelstoke and Glacier national parks have Whitebark Pine, and Banff, Kootenay, Yoho, and Waterton Lakes have both Whitebark Pine and Limber Pine. Both pine species are in decline, and are threatened by a combination of White Pine Blister Rust (a Eurasian fungal disease), Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) outbreaks, and historic fire suppression, all of which are exacerbated by climate change. The seven mountain national parks are working in a coordinated effort to establish self-sustaining, rust-resistant populations of Whitebark and Limber Pine that demonstrate natural seed dispersal, population connectivity, genetic diversity, and adaptability to changing climate. Approach: — Increase the number of trees that have resistance to White Pine Blister Rust (through resistance testing, growing and planting seedlings from more resistant trees, and monitoring success). — Restore Whitebark and Limber Pine habitat through prescribed fire and forest thinning to remove competitive conifers. Reduce mortality of Whitebark and Limber Pine stands from wildfire by clearing vegetation around high-value parent trees. — Deter MPB infestations by attaching pheromone pouches to high-value parent trees. — Improve species inventory and mapping, and predictive mapping methods, to help prioritize future actions. — Provide opportunities for visitors to learn about and participate in conservation programs. — Work together (mountain national parks with partners) to create seed orchards and clone bank capacity in Canada to support recovery. — Integrate Whitebark and Limber Pine restoration objectives into prescribed fire plans and study effectiveness of mitigations for Whitebark and Limber Pine stands within prescribed fire units and during wildfire response. — Test alternative approaches, such as promoting the seed-stashing behaviour of Clark’s Nutcracker, a bird that naturally assists with seed planting in areas where Whitebark Pine likes to grow. — Use Conservation Standards to coordinate with the large number of groups involved. Parks, provinces, NGOs and stakeholders are working together to achieve many objectives. More information: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/nature/conservation/especes-species/pinus-albicaulis