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Whitebark pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola) is an introduced pathogen affecting whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) and limber pine (Pinus flexilis). Whitebark pine is an endangered species protected under the Federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) and Limber pine is designated as an endangered species by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Infection and mortality rates of these species are increasing across their northern range. Every five years, data are collected from permanently marked plots to monitor infection levels across the mountain national parks.

Whitebark pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola) is an introduced pathogen affecting whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) and limber pine (Pinus flexilis). Whitebark pine is an endangered species protected under the Federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) and Limber pine is designated as an endangered species by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Infection and mortality rates of these species are increasing across their northern range. Every five years, data are collected from permanently marked plots to monitor infection levels across the mountain national parks.

Blister rust (Cronartium ribicola) is an introduced pathogen affecting whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) and limber pine (Pinus flexilis). Whitebark pine is an endangered species protected under the Federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) and Limber pine is designated as an endangered species by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Infection and mortality rates of these species are increasing across their northern range. Every five years, data are collected from permanently marked plots to monitor infection levels across all mountain national parks and at various sites across provinces.

Whitebark pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola) is an introduced pathogen affecting whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) and limber pine (Pinus flexilis). Whitebark pine is an endangered species protected under the Federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) and Limber pine is designated as an endangered species by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Infection and mortality rates of these species are increasing across their northern range. Every five years, data are collected from permanently marked plots to monitor infection levels across the mountain national parks.

Whitebark pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola) is an introduced pathogen affecting whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) and limber pine (Pinus flexilis). Whitebark pine is an endangered species protected under the Federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) and Limber pine is designated as an endangered species by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Infection and mortality rates of these species are increasing across their northern range. Every five years, data are collected from permanently marked plots to monitor infection levels across the mountain national parks.

Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis – listed as Endangered under the Species At Risk Act) and Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis- recommended as Endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) have undergone extensive population declines across much of their range due to a number of interacting factors. An introduced pathogen (blister rust - Cronartium ribicola) and an increasing severity of native beetle outbreaks (mountain pine beetle - Dendroctonus ponderosae) coupled with a reduced natural fire regime and changes in climate have all contributed to their decline. Seedling rate of planted seedlings is a management effectiveness measure, in part, used to assess the effectiveness of five-needle pine recovery actions in Waterton Lakes National Park.

Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis – listed as Endangered under the Species At Risk Act) and Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis- recommended as Endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) have undergone extensive population declines across much of their range due to a number of interacting factors. An introduced pathogen (blister rust - Cronartium ribicola) and an increasing severity of native beetle outbreaks (mountain pine beetle - Dendroctonus ponderosae) coupled with a reduced natural fire regime and changes in climate have all contributed to their decline. Seedling Survival of planted seedlings a management effectiveness measure, in part, used to assess the effectiveness of five-needle pine recovery actions in the park.

Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis – listed as Endangered under the Species At Risk Act) and Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis- recommended as Endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) have undergone extensive population declines across much of their range due to a number of interacting factors. An introduced pathogen (blister rust - Cronartium ribicola) and an increasing severity of native beetle outbreaks (mountain pine beetle - Dendroctonus ponderosae) coupled with a reduced natural fire regime and changes in climate have all contributed to their decline. Restoration actions are those undertaken to improve conditions for rust resistant seedlings by opening up the canopy at sites targeted for future planting. In Waterton - restoration actions are primarily from small prescribed fires designed to mimic the effects of natural lightening ignited fires.

Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) restoration supports Jasper National Park’s Multi-species Action Plan. Whitebark Pine is an Endangered Species protected under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) and it has an important role as a keystone species across mountain landscapes. Seeds were collected from whitebark pines identified as being putatively resistant to blister rust and were germinated in nurseries for subsequent planting. Permanent transect plots for resistant seedlings and circular plots for resistant seeds were established to monitor survival after planting.

Whitebark pine is considered a “keystone species” mountain national parks, as it plays several important ecological roles where it exists in subalpine environments. Its survival has been threatened by the combined effects of fire suppression, climate change, mountain pine beetle outbreaks and a disease known as white pine blister rust. In 2014, 495 whitebark pine seedlings were planted in and adjacent to old burn sites in Glacier National Park. The main goals of the monitoring program are to assess health, survivorship, and to note any sign of blister rust infection.