Mountain Pine Bark Beetles are creating a major shift in the environment of the Rocky Mountain conifer Forests. The amount of tree mortality they spread through infestation is on such a large scale that Land Management Agencies are experiencing an overwhelming amount of tree stands affected. This paper will address the infestation of Rocky Mountain Pine Beetle Infestation and the causes, effects and management actions taken. Drought conditions in these areas have increased the extent of the infestation and allowed the insects thrive. Global warming and temperature increases in sub-alpine and alpine forest stands have also allowed the infestation to reach areas never that were at one time not affected by the infestation due to the environments low temperature. Overcrowding and understory litter have drained conifer tree stands of water, nutrients and sunlight. This outbreak allows for wildfire to thrive and has changed the intensity of wildfires in the Rocky Mountain area. Wildlife, recreational forest users, timber industry and the nation’s water resources have all been affected by this infestation through the increased threat of wildfire, …show more content…
The solution forest managers have enacted is only a band aid on the severe outbreak of pine beetle, but by not implementing it they are left without any information on whether or not their practices are helping. Managing the forest isn't something that results are seen overnight, but takes years and years to see the outcome of implemented solutions. So, if nothing is implemented or done to alleviate the environmental issue then forest managers will have no scientific information from studies or monitoring reports to effectively deal with beetle outbreaks now or in the