Honorable ELECTED LEADER

I am writing today on behalf of the Pando Tree, a majestic tree located in Fishlake National Forest and one of the largest and oldest living things on Earth. I write as I want to educate elected leaders about the tree in the hope that they will do all that they can to recognize Pando as a special tree, and work to support its protection and care.

What Makes the Pando Tree Special
The Pando tree is the largest tree of any kind. It is the largest tree by weight, 13.2 million pounds. It is the largest tree by landmass, 106 acres. Pando is also the largest aspen clone and, therefore, the largest tree by species (Populus tremuloides). Pando’s estimated 47,000 trunks appear to us as individual trees but are, in fact, genetically identical parts of a single tree connected by a vast root system that coordinates energy production, defense and regeneration as a single organism, as was confirmed via genetic testing in 2008. This means Pando is not only the largest tree, but the largest organism on terra firma by weight and landmass combined. The Pando Tree is also one of the oldest living things on Earth. Emerging methods in charcoal dating and genetic testing indicates the tree has been active for between 9,000 and 16,000 years; regenerating itself constantly from its vast root system over millennia. Compared to other special trees, the Pando Tree is five times larger than the largest single stem tree, the General Sherman, and almost four times older than the oldest single stem tree, the Methuselah Tree (4,853 years old). All told, the Pando Tree is an ancient wonder in a class by itself, and I believe, is worthy of our recognition and care.

A Tree that Protects Us
The Pando Tree plays a critical role in its homeland in the Fishlake National Forest. The Pando Tree serves as a 0.67-mile by 0.45-mile-wide bulwark protecting historic sites and businesses that are the backbone of the local economy from wildfire, floods, and landslides, while also helping temper its homeland from the effects of drought and severe weather events. Throughout our nation’s history, we have protected special trees; however, Pando enjoys no special designations or protections. Myself and many others believe that since Pando is one of the oldest and largest living things on Earth, it is our responsibility to appeal for its protection, study, and care.

What is Needed to Protect and Care for the Pando Tree
Dating back to the late 1980’s, staff at Fishlake National Forest have worked to protect, monitor, and restore the tree. Doing so involves the installation and maintenance of wildlife control systems, ground disturbances which stimulate new growth, the management and removal of diseased trees, the removal of inordinate amounts of juniper bush (18 acres according toi friedns of Pando)—as it toxifies the soil and blocks sunlight, water and nutrients Pando needs to thrive. Work to care for this ancient wonder also requires regular monitoring of the tree’s landmass which includes the use of LiDAR studies to map changes in the tree, hydrological and geological studies to understand soil and water cycles, and regular soil, flora and fauna studies to understand dynamics in play in the tree. In 2024, the State of Utah appropriated funds to bring 80% of Pando’s landmass into protective care, setting the stage for us to care for the tree in a whole new way. Once protections are in place, we can monitor, restore, and encourage the health of the tree, and I believe that is work worth supporting. After all, the Pando Tree reminds us we still live in a world of wonders.

How the Pando Tree Inspires Us
The Pando Tree is known the world over. Since its discovery, the tree has been the subject of award-winning books and films, has its own US Postage Stamp, and has been honored in a folk song by Utah native Clive Romney. Intel Computer Corporation recently named a new computer chip, the “Pando Tree”, as the tree’s vast interconnected root network has served as an inspiration to pioneers in the information economy. Each year, the Pando Tree’s Wikipedia page is sought out by some 500,000 people online. Each year, some 300,000 pass through the tree on the Fishlake Scenic Byway, while 13,000 people come to enjoy this ancient wonder driving $520,000 in local revenue.  In all, I believe the Pando Tree is worthy of the respect and attention we have given other special trees in our nation’s history, and write as I hope you will work across the aisles with your colleagues to see the tree be recognized as natural wonder and see that it has what is needed to ensure that it is protected for generations to come. Pando is more than just some tree, Pando is one of the oldest and largest lifeforms on Earth!

What I Hope You Will Do
Today, there is no existing legislative or appropriations bill proposed to honor the Pando Tree, or support work to care for it. I hope you will raise the matter with your colleagues. I hope you will inquire about opportunities to fund local, state and federal agencies who are directly involved in Pando’s protection and care, namely, Fishlake National Forest, Utah Department of Natural Resources, community organizations and educational institutions who work alongside nonprofit Friends of Pando to help care for Pando as best they can on a volunteer basis (and frankly, on shoestring budgets.) Know that if you do, myself and community leaders in Pando’s homeland, will meet with you and agencies to do our part to help. Thank you for your time and consideration of what I have shared. I hope your office will reply to let me know your thoughts on how you could work to honor and protect the Pando Tree.

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