Sierra Nevada Forests

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Sierra Nevada Forests (WWF ecoregion NA0527)

Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California (c) 2005 James H. Bassett

Source of bioregions data: Olson, D. M. and E. Dinerstein. The Global 200: Priority ecoregions for global conservation. (PDF file) Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 89:125-126.

Distinctiveness (1=highest,4=lowest): 1 (globally outstanding)
This ecoregion contains one of the most diverse temperate conifer forests on Earth. It has a wide range of habitat types and about 3500 species of vascular plants, including 400 endemic species, and about 400 species of vertebrates.*

Conservation Status (1=most endangered, 5=most intact): 2 (endangered)
About 25% of the habitat is intact. Four national parks protect large blocks of intact forest. Logging, grazing in wilderness areas, and air pollution are threats.*

Characteristic species*
Pinus lambertiana (sugar pine)
Abies concolor (white fir)
Sequoiadendron gigantea (giant sequoia) (c) 2004 Maurice J. Kaufmann
Abies magnifica (red fir)
Pinus jeffreyi (Jeffrey pine)
Juniperus scopulorum (mountain juniper)
Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen)
Pinus albicaulis (white bark pine) (c) 2004 Maurice J. Kaufmann
Pinus balfouriana (foxtail pine)
Pinus flexilis (limber pine)

Associated habitats

Mixed valley forest, Yosemite National Park, California

Giant sequoia grove, Yosemite National Park, California

High elevation forest, Sequoya National Park, California

Treeline, Yosemite National Park, California

* Ricketts, T.H., E. Dinerstein, D.M. Olson, C.J. Loucks, et al. (1999) Terrestrial Ecoregions of North America: A Conservation Assessment. World Wildlife Fund - United States and Canada. Island Press, Washington, D.C. pp. 244-248.