First Tuesday: Whitebark Pine Ecology with Mack Laverick
When: Tuesday, April 1, at 7pm.
Where: TBD
Whitebark Pine Ecology
Join us in April to learn more about our local whitebark pine trees from Methow Valley botanist, Mack Laverick.
Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulus) is a high-elevation, five needle pine that was listed as an endangered species in 2022. If you've ever gone hiking in the North Cascades, you've probably encountered a beautiful whitebark pine along a ridge or atop a mountain peak. Known as a "keystone species" these conifers provide important habitat and food sources for critters such as bears and clark's nutcrackers - which you may remember from Taza Schaming's talk in 2022. Many scientists across North America are working to better understand and protect these magnificent trees including the botanists at the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
In this talk, Mack will explore the how to differentiate the types of 5-needles pines found in Washington, what ecosystem services whitebark provides, the threats to whitebark pine, and the restoration work currently being done, including how you can help!
This event is free and open to the public. Reach out to Bridger with any questions about the event.
About Mack
Mack Laverick (she/they) is a Resource Assistant Botanist for the Methow Valley Ranger District. Mack moved to Washington last year after completing her Msc. in Plant and Fungal Taxonomy, Biodiversity, and Conservation at the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens in London. She received her BS. from the University of Vermont in Botany and has worked various field jobs in Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Vermont. Alpine plants are one of their passions, though they’re always happy to go off on other ecological tangents from salamanders to bees and more.
