The whitebark pine that grows in the north west United States has been in decline over the last few years.

Forest fires, pine beetles and other factors made worse by climate change have caused the decline.

Demonstrating the fragility of the environment, the decline of the whitebark pine is having serious consequences for the grizzly bear population in the greater Yellowstone area covering Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. Whitebark pine is an important source of food for the beara.

After near extinction due to hunting, grizzlies were protected.In 2007, the grizzly’s threatened status was removed as populations were thought to have recovered.

But now conservatonists worried about the grizzlies’ survival have been successful in a federal court case to reinstate the bears’ ‘endangered species‘ status under the Endangered Species Act.

Us District Judge Donald W. Molloy, sitting in Seattle, supported in the main the conservationists’ claim that the bear population faced serious reduction due to the loss of the whitebark pine as a result of global warming:

“Much of the science [cited by the government] directly contradicts the [US Fish and Wildlife Service's] conclusions”, said Judge Molloy in his decision. He dismissed USFWS’ conclusions, adding, ” Where the agency’s conclusions contradict the science, the conclusions are not reasonable, and the court need not defer to the agency’s decision”.

The Judge ordered that the grizzly be restored to endangered species status until long-term strategies were in place to protect it.

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