The U.S. Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Research Station, headquartered in Fort Collins, will organize a summit of scientists to probe the nature and causes of the region’s aspen decline.
Aspen dieback, beyond what was expected in the West’s aging forests, might have begun a decade ago, but mortality has seemed to increase rapidly in the last several years. Aspen ecologists admit being puzzled and alarmed.
Particularly worrisome is that the loss of stands also could involve the trees’ massive root systems, from which they generate new trees. Widespread root death could mean the aspen won’t be able to come back, ecologist Wayne Shepperd said.
“What we want to do is put together up to three dozen people from many different disciplines to determine what we do know and what we need to know and how to get there,” assistant director Janine Powell said. “We want to have a small enough group of scientists that they can have a conversation.”
Powell said officials hope to hold the conference by early December.
“We definitely hope to hold it sooner than later,” she said.
Public affairs officer Dave Tippets said money sources weren’t known yet, but funding is often available for something the public considers this important.
“It’s pretty clear with all the interest in this that people really love aspen and are concerned,” Tippets said. “Aspen is valuable ecologically. It’s valuable commercially.”
Shepperd said that scientists should make a list of questions and hypotheses, set priorities and pool their knowledge in a comprehensive study of the problem across the West.
“The aspen is an iconic species,” Shepperd said. “It’s like a puppy dog. People want to make sure it’s all right.”
Staff writer Electa Draper can be reached at 970-385-0917 or edraper@denverpost.com.
