Bruce Westerman: “Recently, we have talked a lot about the dire situation of some of California's most iconic trees, the sequoias. But we…”

“Recently, we have talked a lot about the dire situation of some of California's most iconic trees, the sequoias. But we have yet to discuss the condition of California's oldest trees, the Great Basin bristlecone pine trees. Great Basin bristlecone pines signify resilience, longevity, and perseverance. To cope in difficult times, they almost completely die off, leaving but a few strips of bark that can continue to grow along the ground or skyward for thousands of years. To ward off pests, bristlecone pines trap pests in their thick resin. Due to severe drought, in mixed forests, bark beetles have been able to build up broods on other tree species and overwhelm many bristlecone pines, which succumb to bark beetles in a way they have never before. {time} 1300 The good news is, in the past month, a Forest Service pathologist confirmed that Methuselah, the nearly 5,000-year-old bristlecone pine thought to be the oldest tree in the world, has yet to face bark beetle infestation. There is still time to act on the drought in a timely, commonsense manner to protect our Great Basin bristlecone pines. We must follow the bristlecone pine's example of resilience and perseverance, adapting our laws to the needs of the natural world to stave off catastrophic wildfire and severe drought.…”