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A new study suggests that Pando, a Utah tree colony considered the largest organism on Earth, is shrinking in part because of unsuccessful attempts by humans to preserve it.
The Pando, located in the Fishlake National Forest, in Utah, is a group of over 40,000 trees naturally cloned from a single tree. Pando, in Latin "I spread", covers 106 acres.
Researchers at Utah State University found that animals such as mule deer and cattle grazed near the Pando, preventing the growth of new trees when they died.
A sequence of 72-year-old aerial photos featured in PLoS One revealed that the number of trees appearing in the Pando is dissipating.
Attempts to prevent wildlife from accessing the body by installing fences have not yielded the desired results, researchers said.
"It's falling apart under our watch," said Paul Rogers, director of the Western Aspen Alliance and adjunct faculty member of the state's Department of Natural Resources, in a statement. ;Utah. "A clear lesson here is that we can not independently manage wildlife and the forest."
Rogers adds that it's still possible to save the body through what he calls "mega-conservation".
"It would be shameful to witness the significant reduction of this iconic forest when reversing this decline is achievable, if we demonstrate the willingness to do so," he said.
More: A photo of endangered monkeys wins the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award in 2018
More: Congratulations to this: the brewing industry is preparing ways to offset the effects of climate change on beer supply
Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @ brettmolina23.
Copyright 2017 USATODAY.com
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