The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will announce tomorrow that the whitebark pine, which plays such a key role in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, may be eligible for protection under the Endangered Species Act -- a designation that could start the process of protecting the pine from further harm.

The whitebark pine's importance in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem stems from its role as a food source at the highest elevations of the region: it provides crucial food for grizzlies emerging from winter sleeps, it provides food and shelter for birds and mammals at high altitudes, and it gives shelter for smaller plants. Because whitebark pine can thrive at high altitudes, it goes into mountainous areas where other plants cannot put down roots, stabilizing the soil and regulating water runoff.

But whitebark pine is threatened by a number of factors, most notably mountain pine beetles, who are thriving these days and causing much damage to whitebark pine. Why are beetles thriving? Because of global warming; milder winters means beetles can live through a Yellowstone cold spell and allows them to move to higher elevations; the whitebark pine has no defense mechanisms against the mountain pine beetle. The lack of a winter kill gives the beetles a head start for the coming year. 

The next step: a review process and a call for public input before a final decision is handed down. If the whitebark pine is declared an endangered species, it will be a first (no tree has been declared to be endangered) and a huge challenge. If nothing else, it will spur the government to map out a protection plan and give more ammunition to folks arguing that global warming is very real, with measurable consequences.

You can read the full finding from the government here.

Keep up with what's happening in Yellowstone by signing up for the free weekly Yellowstone Insider newsletter. Subscribe today! More details here.

Follow Yellowstone Insider on Facebook! Click this link to go to our Facebook page, which features story updates.

We've also set up a free Twitter account so you can receive updates on the device of your choice.