Whitebark pines are picturesque, long-lived and hardy trees that thrive in windy, cold and high-elevation environments across the American West. As a keystone species, this five-needled pine influences the health and life cycles of other native plants and animals. In addition to providing a high-energy food source for animals, healthy whitebark pine stands also play an essential role in slowing runoff from snowmelt and reducing soil erosion. In recent years, the whitebark pine population has declined because of white pine blister rust, mountain pine beetles, climate change and fire. As a result of these threats, scientists estimate that as of 2016, 51% of all standing whitebark pine trees are dead. Last month, @USFWS listed the whitebark pine as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Providing protections will boost new and ongoing research efforts to conserve the species, including future developments in combating white pine blister rust. Photos by NPS ALT TEXT: Photo 1: A Clark's nutcracker gathers seeds from a whitebark pine cone at the top of the tree. Photo 2: The skeleton of a whitebark pine stretches out over a glacial valley with long narrow lakes linking back to cloud-capped mountains.