Fuel treatments in whitebark pine forests: Limiting whitebark pine mortality during burning

Abstract

Whitebark pine (WBP) is a federally threatened species that is easily killed by fire but also dependent on fire. In WPB forests, prescribed burning and mechanical fuel treatments can reduce competition from shade-tolerant conifers, improve vigor of surviving WBP, create openings to foster regeneration of WPB seedlings, and mitigate the risk of large, high-severity wildfires. Burning in WBP stands requires careful planning to avoid killing reproductively mature, cone-bearing WBP, as many of these may have some level of genetic resistance to the exotic pathogen that causes white pine blister rust. It is challenging to burn an area to reduce the density of competing understory and overstory trees, but not kill too many WBP trees. This document suggests ways to mitigate WBP mortality during burns and provides guidance on designing prescriptions for fuel treatments in WBP stands. These recommendations are geared for areas where the main objectives include WBP restoration and mitigating the likelihood of high WBP mortality in the event of a wildfire.

Citation

Hood, Sharon M. 2025. Fuel treatments in whitebark pine forests: Limiting whitebark pine mortality during burning. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory. 6 p.