Magnificent five-needle pines of Western North America

Description Sugar pine Join Chris Earle, Michael Kauffmann, and Michael Murray for a comprehensive introduction to the 5-needle pines of western North America! This 2-part webinar will explore the natural history of six closely related conifers of western North America. We will start with a brief overview of conifers including evolutionary, natural and cultural history. We will follow this by diving into pines generally and then the 5-needle pines of the West including stories of the gigantic sugar pine, the iconic western white pine, the ancient limber pine, the world’s oldest living thing, the bristlecone pine and its close relative the foxtail pine, and high elevation whitebark pine. We will wrap up the series with a conservation discussion for all 5-needle pines of Western North America. Part 1: Intro to conifers, intro to pines, sugar pine, and whitebark pine Part 2: Limber pine, bristlecone pine, foxtail pines, and 5-needle pine conservation  All webinars are available for viewing for three months after purchase. With purchase, you will receive a coupon code for 40% off to purchase Conifers of the Pacific Slope to use as a class reference. Your Teachers Chris Earle Chris Earle is a forest ecologist based in Olympia, Washington. He is the webmaster of conifers.org and co-author of Trees of the Western U.S. He has traveled, photographed, and written widely about the world’s conifer species.     Michael Kauffmann Michael Kauffmann  is a kindergarten through college educator in Humboldt County where he lives with his wife and two young boys. He has served as an ecologist with the CNPS Vegetation Program mapping rare conifers including whitebark pine, yellow-cedar, Pacific silver fir, and bigcone Douglas-fir. He is also the author of Conifer Country, Conifers of the Pacific Slope, and Field Guide to Manzanitas. He is a new board member for the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation.   Michael Murray Michael Murray is a forest pathologist for the BC Ministry Lands and Natural Resources in Nelson, BC. He has worked as Terrestrial Ecologist, Crater Lake National Park as well as Ecologist for the Oregon Natural Heritage Program.  Michael received his Ph.D in whitebark pine fire ecology-forest health from the University of Idaho and an M.S degree in natural resources from Humboldt State University in Arcata, California. Michael’s interests include whitebark pine dynamics and long term monitoring, climate driven tree declines, and ameliorating forest root diseases. Michael broadcasts a weekly radio show and continues his quest to muster pleasing sounds on pedal steel guitar. He is a long-time board member for the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation.