EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
Slow the spread campaign
The USDA Forest Service in the Rocky Mountains has initiated a campaign called "Slow the Spread". This is an effort to widely educate people about the threat of white pine blister rust on Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine and Limber pine forests. The recent discovery (2003) of white pine blister rust in the Sangre de Cristo mountain range in Colorado has been one of many motivating factors for this campaign.
They are urging people to not move, transplant or buy trees that are infected with white pine blister rust. Through providing educational materials they hope to help individuals learn to identify 5 - needle pines as well as the symptoms of blister rust. They are asking anyone who spots blister rust to report it to the USDA Forest Service. At the same time the campaign is encouraging local Forest Service districts not to sell transplanting permits for white pines or Ribes.
As a part of this campaign the USDA Forest Service is providing informational brochures at national forest information centers, hanging posters at prominent trailheads, and working with the National Park Service to assure the message is included among the park newsletters and entrance brochures.
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