White Bark Pine

A keystone Species
Whitebark pine is one of the first trees to break ground after a forest fire, stabilizing soil and snowpack for the ski season. Their highly-nutritious pinecones feed up to 100 different species, filling in an important role in the food chain.

Representing considerable biodiversity across the higher mountains of the U. S. and Canada- Whitebark pine stabilizes the function of an ecosystem. They are the home to squirrel, northern flicker, and mountain bluebird nests. Elk and blue grouse use whitebark pine communities as summer habitat.

Tolerant of the harshest conditions, whitebark pine grows at the highest treeline elevations; its canopies shade snowpack and protract snowmelt, thus regulating downstream flows; its roots stabilize soil, which reduces erosion, particularly on steep, rocky slopes. Thus, whitebark pine protects watersheds, which is important for both agricultural and drinking water.

We're proud to be a supporter of the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation (WPEF) - see if you can identify them near the Summit House!

Main Threats Include
White pine blister rust- An invasive fungal disease, introduced in the early 1900’s.
Outbreaks of mountain pine beetles, who thrive in the ambient air temperature increase.
Increased competition from shade-loving trees caused by fire suppression.
Climate change. The decline of whitebark pine is compounded by the loss of other forest components: wildlife, other flora, and water resources, which directly impacts humans.

History
Interior Salish peoples harvested the seeds by removing the cones and roasting them overnight. The seeds were crushed to make a flour. The fibrous roots were used to sew bark together and to weave watertight containers.

Dwelling in high elevations
Dwarfed by exposure to harsh weather
Crimson pollen
Smaller cones that do not open
Needles in bundles of five
Growth varies from straight up to twisted and contorted
Pine needles are smooth in either direction Bark is thin, smooth, and chalky-white on young stems; as the tree gets older, the bark becomes thicker and forms narrow, brown, scaly plates

Clark's Nutcracker
Co-evolution with Clark’s Nutcracker, who store the seeds in excess, helping healthy trees grow. If whitebark pine declines into extinction, the Clark's nutcracker will lose an important source of food and may no longer be seen in areas where the tree inhabits.

Sources
“Whitebark Pine Matters.” Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation, whitebarkfound.org | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. OFWO - Whitebark Pine. fws.gov. | Parish, Roberta; Coupé, Ray; and Lloyd, Dennis. 1996. Plants of southern interior British Columbia. Vancouver, BC: Lone Pine. 463p.

WhiteBark Pine