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National Forest and Pine Beetle
 National Forest SupportVail Resorts (Breckenridge’s parent company) has partnered with the National Forest Foundation to raise money for conservation projects in the national forests where Vail Resorts operations are located. The program raises money by adding $1 to the total for each Vail Resorts season pass purchased or room night stayed at a Vail Resorts property (which can be removed by the guest), and is matched 50% by the National Forest Foundation. The money is then distributed by the National Forest Foundation to non-profit organizations doing on-the-ground conservation work in the National Forests where Vail Resorts operates. Mountain Pine Beetle Brown lodgepole pine trees around Breckenridge and Summit County have been killed as a result of an infestation by mountain pine beetles. Mountain pine beetles burrow into the bark of pine trees and lay eggs in the inner bark (the living layer of the tree). The eggs hatch into larvae that eat the living inner bark layer. The beetles also carry blue stain fungus on their bodies which develops and spreads throughout the tree and slows the flow of water and nutrients. The combination of larvae eating the bark and the blue stain fungus slowing the flow of nutrients cuts off the flow of water and pitch to the branches and needles, killing the tree. As trees die, their needles change from green to rusty brown. Once the larvae mature into beetles, the beetles fly to a new tree, generally sometime between early July and early September. The beetles only have to fly a short distance to find another living tree to attack. The number of beetles in the current outbreak has reached epidemic proportion and widespread areas of trees have been killed as a result. Breckenridge Ski Resort has worked with the Town of Breckenridge on controlling the spread of mountain pine beetle within the Town’s boundary. In 2007, Breckenridge Ski Resort cut 200 trees infested with pine beetle in the ski resort’s interface with the Town. More trees are expected to be cut in the coming years as the pine beetle infestation continues.
To reduce our impact on natural systems, we also support: Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency |
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