Each fall, aspen trees cast a golden glow on mountain slopes. But aspen are dying throughout the West, and bald patches are replacing once brilliant stands. We’re working to improve the health of aspen forests in Utah alongside the Forest Service and dozens of other partners.
A sky-island in south-central Utah with vast stands of aspen. Learn about our restoration team ›
The world’s largest aspen clone, located in the Fishlake National Forest, is dying. Find out why ›
Clones reproduce by sending up new shoots, but the green tops are a favorite food of deer, elk, and cattle. Continued feasting on new sprouts prevents them from growing into full-sized trees and results in the slow decline of clones. We advocate for less grazing in Utah’s national forests to give aspen the chance to thrive.
Overgrazing is only part of the story. Decades of fire suppression have allowed other species like pines, spruce, and fir, to shade out and outcompete sun-loving aspen. We’re working with partners and the Forest Service to study the results of various treatments, such as thinning, prescribed burns, and fencing out grazing animals.
Invasive weeds, like non-native thistle and houndstongue, push out native plants and can form monocultures across our forest floors. We pull weeds in fenced reference areas year after year to shift the balance of understories toward native plants, which support an incredible diversity of native bees, birds, and other wildlife.
Fire is a tool we use to help restore aspen forests. By bringing back natural fire patterns to our national forests, we can clear out evergreen trees, making space for aspens to fill in.
The Pando Clone (meaning “I spread”) is one of the largest known organisms in the world. It is made up of 40,000 stems, covers 106 acres in Fishlake National Forest, and weighs nearly 13 million pounds.
Much of the clone is in serious decline. New shoots normally replace old, dying trees. But here, grazing animals' appetites are outpacing the rate of new growth.
We work in plots within the clone where resident deer and cattle are fenced out, giving young aspen a chance to grow into mature trees. We return to these areas to pull invasive thistles and houndstongue and monitor the aspen’s new growth.
With the shared goal of restoring aspen across the mountain, a group of nearly 20 stakeholders meets regularly to develop restoration recommendations and monitor outcomes of aspen restoration activities. The Trust co-chairs the team, alongside the Utah Department of Agriculture. Read about what we've accomplished together ›
You have the opportunity to comment on how you think some of the most beautiful landscapes in Utah should be managed for the next generation to come.
Read More
Tree ring data helps scientists and land managers protect old-growth pinyon and juniper trees.
Read More
Pack your camera and head for the trees! The Colorado Plateau has some of the best displays of fall foliage all season long.
Read More
