Whitebark Pine Restoration in the South Chilcotin

September - October 2020

A high-altitude keystone species, Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) is Western Canada’s only endangered tree. Threatened by a trifecta of fungal pathogens, mountain pine beetle, and increased competition from other sub-alpine tree species, Whitebark pine is in a state of decline across its entire Canadian range both in BC and Alberta.

Whitebark pine are of particular ecological interest due to its mutualistic relationship with the Clark’s nutcracker, who depend on the large nutrient-rich seeds within the large purple cones. The nutcrackers collect and store the seeds in caches under rocks and logs on slopes in the sub-alpine. If the birds then forget the location of one of their caches the seeds are then in the perfect location for germination, thereby helping the dispersal of the trees.

During the fall of 2020, I worked with the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Restoration Foundation conducting restoration activities in the South Chilcotin region. This included planting Whitebark pine seedlings, surveying survival of previously planted areas, and establishing competition removal plots. The work involved long days in remote high elevation field sites, using helicopters to access locations, as well as hiking to and from work areas.