RAD Decisions in rad landscapes: Climate adaptation for whitebark pine in wilderness

Abstract

Whitebark pine, a geographically widespread upper subalpine tree species, exists largely within federally designated wilderness areas that are afforded greater protection as compared to surrounding public and privately owned lands (Box 1). Nevertheless, climate change, associated disturbances, and white pine blister rust are causing an increase in tree mortality of this species across most of its range. Because of the multitude of ongoing and emerging threats, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service published a final rule (87 FR 76882) to list whitebark pine as a federally threatened species in 2022. In many places, whitebark pine represents a climax species and is the dominant tree species in upper subalpine zones. In other areas, whitebark pine may be more of an early seral or pioneer species following disturbance and may facilitate the establishment of late seral tree species. In either scenario, whitebark pine plays a key role in the maintenance or establishment of forest communities in upper subalpine zones (Callaway 1998; Tomback & Kendall 2001). Deciding how and where to restore whitebark pine is complicated by changing climate conditions and guiding policy under the 1964 Wilderness Act. Nevertheless, further loss of whitebark pine or replacement of whitebark pine by other tree species may ecologically destabilize upper subalpine communities by altering ecosystem function and negatively impact culturally important subsistence and relationships for Native American heritage.

Citation

Hefty, Kira; Rushing, Jaclyn Fox; Parks, Sean; Gaudry, Jimmy; Crausbay, Shelley; Hollingsworth, Teresa. 2025. RAD Decisions in rad landscapes: Climate adaptation for whitebark pine in wilderness. Final Report. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute. 80 p.