I’ve heard that the area around Hornet Lookout is one source of the seeds used in this project . . .
The U.S. Forest Service is growing disease-resistant whitebark pine trees to improve the chances of survival of the key high-elevation species, which blister rust is wiping out in the Northern Rockies.
“It’s just using the natural selection process and giving it a little bit of a boost,” said Tanya Murphy, a silviculturist with Great Falls-based Lewis and Clark National Forest.
Some whitebark pine trees have genetic traits that make them more resistant to disease.