Death of an ecosystem: perspectives on western white pine ecosystems of North America at the end of the twentieth century

Alan E. Harvey; James W. Byler; Geral McDonald; Leon F. Neuenschwander; Jonalea Tonn

doi:10.2737/RMRS-GTR-208

Treesearch

Death of an ecosystem: perspectives on western white pine ecosystems of North America at the end of the twentieth century

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Alan E. Harvey, James W. Byler, Geral McDonald, Leon F. Neuenschwander, Jonalea Tonn

Year:

2008

Type:

General Technical Report

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/RMRS-GTR-208

Source:

Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-208. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 10 p.

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Download (PDF 4.79 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/29617.pdf

Abstract

The effective loss of western white pine (Pinus monticola Dougl.) in the white pine ecosystem has far-reaching effects on the sustainability of local forests and both regional and global forestry issues. Continuing trends in management of this forest type has the potential to put western white pine, as well as the ecosystem it once dominated, at very high risk in the future. Societal issues associated with natural resource management must be resolved early in the 21st century to allow restoration of this ecosystem so that the Interior Northwest's most productive forests can be sustainable at levels near their historical potential.

Keywords

white pine blister rust, ecosystems, Ribes, western white pine

Citation

Harvey, Alan E.; Byler, James W.; McDonald, Geral I.; Neuenschwander, Leon F.; Tonn, Jonalea R. 2008. Death of an ecosystem: perspectives on western white pine ecosystems of North America at the end of the twentieth century. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-208. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 10 p.