Endangered Whitebark Pine Ecosystems in the Mountains of West Central BC

The Bulkley Valley Research Centre began whitebark pine research in 2007 by revisiting whitebark pine ecosystem plots that were established in the 1970s and 80s by the BC Forest Service through its BEC (biogeoclimatic ecosystem classification) program to learn how the resilience of these ecosystems was affected by the cumulative effects of mountain pine beetle, blister rust and a changing climate. The results of the initial study clearly showed that whitebark pine ecosystems and their dependent species were at significant risk and a restoration program was badly needed.

In 2011, the Bulkley Valley Research Centre began a program of applied restoration research. This report summarizes the 2011-2012 program of work, partly funded by Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC). Comprehensive information on the full scope of the whitebark pine ecosystems project can be found at www.bvcentre.ca/whitebark.