The natural resource stewardship program is the principle means through which the national park service (NPS) evaluates and improves the health of watersheds, landscapes, and marine and coastal…

This Cooperative Agreement awarded by the National Park Service (NPS) under the Natural Resource Stewardship program (CFDA 15.944) provides $347,163.07 to American Forests to develop and begin implementing a 20-year recovery and conservation plan for whitebark pine, a federally listed threatened tree species, at Mount Rainier, Olympic, and North Cascades National Parks. The goal is to promote the recovery and conservation of whitebark pine through expanded scientific planning, restoration capacity, and leadership in collaboration with American Forests, as outlined in the National Whitebark Pine Strategy. This project will employ a partner-position restoration ecologist to carry out these efforts, which aim to improve the health and resiliency of this threatened species in response to climate change impacts. The award period is from September 1, 2024 to September 1, 2028.

The natural resource stewardship program is the principle means through which the national park service (NPS) evaluates and improves the health of watersheds, landscapes, and marine and coastal resources, sustains biological communities on the lands and waters in parks, and actively endeavors to improve the resiliency of these natural resources and adapt them to the effects of climate change. To carry out and further this stewardship responsibility, NPS implements programs that encompass a broad range of research, operational, and educational activities by utilizing park personnel and contractor support or cooperative agreements. This project will employ a partner-position restoration ecologist to develop and begin implementation of a 20-year recovery and conservation plan for whitebark pine, a high elevation, federally listed threatened tree species. This partnership with american forests will expand the capacity for stewardship of this threatened species at mount rainier, olympic, and north cascades national park. Beneficiaries include the general public.