Restoration Actions - Waterton Lakes - Conservation and Restoration Project (Five needle pine)

English: 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. Using mechanical (e.g. chainsaw) means in limber and whitebark pine habitat is an option and will be used in the event prescribed fires cannot be implemented due to weather or other factors. Restoration actions are measured in the number of hectares per year.

Francais: 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. Using mechanical (e.g. chainsaw) means in limber and whitebark pine habitat is an option and will be used in the event prescribed fires cannot be implemented due to weather or other factors. Restoration actions are measured in the number of hectares per year.