April 19, 2006

IDAHO FALLS - Idaho's state tree may be the Western White Pine, but when it comes to a silvicultural icon that represents the whole Intermountain West, it is surely the Quaking Aspen that comes to everyone's mind. When one thinks of the Rocky Mountains, a stand of golden aspen trembling in the fall breeze is one of the premier images. Unfortunately, the number of these iconic stands is decreasing all across the West, including Idaho. On this Arbor Day, April 28, a number of state and federal agencies are banding together to sponsor an Aspen Working Group to combat the loss of this magnificent native species and the wildlife and humans that depend on them. The working group will be open to all who are interested in conservation of quaking aspen.

Like so many of our native flora and fauna, aspen has been taken for granted. It was thought aspen had always been here and would always remain, but in Eastern Idaho numerous changes have occurred over the past century that has had a dramatic impact on the quantity and quality of aspen stands. These impacts were for the most part by-products of other resource management activities, not maliciously designed to reduce aspen stands. Along with taking aspen for granted, the benefit that they provide to wildlife has also been grandly undervalued. Modern science has shown that dozens of different plant and animal species benefit from a single acre-sized stand of aspen.

A stand of aspen (also called a clone)is a single organism rather than hundreds of individual trees. Clones can range in size from less than one acre, to nearly 100 acres. The stand is like any other organism in that it actually responds to external factors, with certain things making it grow and others causing it to die back. In the case of aspen, activities such as fire can actually have a beneficial effect.

In the case of the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, the aspen component of the forest has declined by as much as 65%. Many of the remaining stands are composed of trees that are of similar ages, making them very susceptible to damage by insects and disease. Uneven-aged stands are healthier and more beneficial for wildlife. The goal of the newly created working group will be to reverse this trend through a wide-range of programs and activities by not only government agencies, but also concerned citizens and conservation groups.

On Friday, April 28th at 10 AM the Eastern Idaho Working Group will officially be created at an agreement-signing ceremony to be held at the joint United States Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) offices in Idaho Falls. In addition to the two federal agencies, taking part in the formation of the working group will be the Idaho Department of Fish & Game, The Idaho Department of Lands, and the Idaho Department of Agriculture. Representatives of these groups will be present to not only sign the agreement, but to be available to speak with the public and media afterwards. Information kits and videos relating to aspen will be available.

On Thursday, May 11 at 7:00 PM the actual first meeting of the Eastern Idaho Working Group will take place at the IDFG headquarters in Idaho Falls. All interested publics, as well as conservation groups are invited to attend and meet with the government partners to create a path forward for restoring aspen in Eastern Idaho. To learn more about the Eastern Idaho Aspen Working Group call 525-7290.