White pine : the natural and human history of a foundational American tree / John Pastor.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 171-187) and index.

Introduction -- 1. The Evolution and Arrival of White Pine -- 2. "A Great Store of Wood and Above All of Pines" -- 3. A Logger's Paradise -- 4. Thoreau, the Maine Woods, Forest Succession, and Faith in a Seed -- 5. The Watershed -- 6. A Scientific Foundation of White Pine Ecology and Management -- 7. Rusty Pines and Gooseberries -- 8. Roosevelt's Tree Army -- 9. Rebirth by Fire -- 10. Restoring the White Pine -- 11. Climate Change and the Future of White Pine -- Afterword.

"The iconic white pine has played a vital role in shaping the ecology of the North Woods from Maine to Minnesota, and the sought-after trunks of its mature trees have influenced American history, from the American Revolution to the Civilian Conservation Corps. A "foundation species" that defines the structure of the ecosystem, white pine has been foundational in other ways-as a cultural touchstone and economic driver throughout their range. In White Pine, John Pastor will weave together ecological and human elements, tracing many critical roles white pine forests play in the North Woods and beyond. Since the clearcutting heyday of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, white pine has staged an impressive comeback, yet today, climate change poses a new and growing threat to the species' survival. There is hope for the iconic tree, however: seemingly opposing groups, including a longtime logging family and scientists at The Nature Conservancy, are pioneering new ways to protect and restore white pine forests. Throughout American history, the white pine has often been a symbol of the conflict between capitalism and conservation; but with Pastor's guidance, looking back at white pine's past can show us a new path forward"-- Provided by publisher.