Western Mountains
Dying lodgpole pine in Rocky Mountain National Park. Photo by NPS.
Climate change threatens some of the most treasured natural and historic places in our nation. An example in the Western Mountains bioregion that park mangers are concerned about is the ongoing pine beetle outbreak in Rocky Mountain National Park. Pine beetles are natural to this system, but normally the harsh Colorado winters are cold enough to kill off many of these beetles. However with warming winter temperatures it has allowed the beetle population to explode, causing the devastation of lodgpole pine trees in the park. When one visits Rocky Mountain today it is common to see acres of dead and dying trees within the park.
Related Links
Suggested links to learn more about climate change in this region:
- Rocky Mountain Network Climate Change Resource Brief
- Greater Yellowstone Network Climate Change Resource Brief
- Northern Colorado Plateau Network Climate Change Resource Brief
- Southern Colorado Plateau Network Climate Change Resource Brief
- Sierra Nevada Network Climate Change Resource Brief
- Klamath Network Climate Change Resource Brief
- North Coast and Cascades Network Climate Change Resource Brief
- Upper Columbia Basin Network Climate Change Resource Brief
- Rocky Mountain National Park Pine Beetle Background
- Devils Postpile Environmental Factors
- North Cascades National Environmental Factors
- Talking Points: Impacts to Western Mountains and Forests
- Western Mountain Initiative
Last updated: April 22, 2010
