Mitigating the effects of the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic.

Throughout the Rocky Mountains huge swaths of forest have been decimated due to the epidemic populations of the Mountain Pine Beetle. In the summer of 2010, it became clear that Shambhala Mountain Center’s majestic pine forests would not be spared.

The purpose of our campaign is to protect the Ponderosa Pine forests of Shambhala Mountain Center from the potential devastation that the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic threatens. Because of the movement of the beetle population, this is a project that we expect to be involved in for the next 3 – 5 years. However, we feel it is important to do what we can to mitigate the effects of the invasion. Without any mitigation efforts we could potentially see 95% mortality of all pine trees on the land.

The mitigation efforts of 2011 were a huge success!

In the fall of 2010, a comprehensive survey of the trees on the land found that 2,500 trees had been infested by the Pine Beetle and would die by the next summer. In early 2011, Shambhala Mountain Center received a grant of $63,450 from the Colorado State Forestry Service, which in combination with donations received, allowed us remove 2,300 of the infested trees and implement additional preventative measures to protect approximately 1,500 strategically-chosen trees on the land. This strategy has proven to be very successful.

During their flight season, the Pine Beetles from one brood tree will move on to infest another 3-7 healthy trees, creating an exponential infestation rate. This means that had we taken no action at all, we could expect the beetles from the 2,300 trees to infest another 12,000 trees.

Successes of 2011′s approach:

  • After the 2011 fall survey only 1,550 trees were identified as being infested.
  • 2 out of 480 trees that were protected by pheromone pouches were infested.
  • 2 out of 1000 trees sprayed with permethrin were infested.
  • We are now working with a more manageable level of infestation.

The plan for 2012

Having such success to date encourages us to continue our efforts in the upcoming year. We are evaluating the weight of our three activities from last year: tree removal, pheromone pouches and pesticide spraying. However, we are certain that the place to start is with the removal of the 1,550 newly infected trees.

Shambhala Mountain Center will remove these trees during the winter season while the ground is frozen in order to minimize damage to the land. Removing the infested brood trees ensures the prevention of beetles spreading in the following year and reduces the risk of wildfire and falling trees on the land.

While removal of infested brood trees mitigates the spread of beetles within Shambhala Mountain Center property boundaries, it does not prevent additional beetles from flying onto the land from adjacent properties. We will again evaluate additional preventative measures to protect individual trees strategically chosen throughout the land prior to the beetles’ summer flight season.

How can you help?

The cost of the tree removal will total at $34,000. We have received a grant for $19,000 from the Colorado State Forestry Service, which mean we need to raise $15,000 in order to complete this important task.  (Are these #’s right?)

Please join our efforts to preserve the pine forests of Shambhala Mountain Center for all of those who are to come here in the future by making a contribution through our secure online donation form.