PJ - header
Blake McCord

Volunteer - What We Do Section Title

What We Do

PJ - uses

Pinyon tree

 Advocate for old growth

Pinyon and juniper trees can grow to be over 1,000 years old. When agencies propose clear-cutting projects, we work to protect old growth stands.

Pinyon nuts

Work with land managers

We organize field trips with land managers and partners to check on the conditions of pinyon and juniper forests and identify restoration priorities.

Pinyon Jay bird with a pinyon nut in its mouth

Collect data

Volunteers collect data on pinyon jays to inform sound management of forests in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and beyond. Sign up to birdwatch ›

PJ - threats

PJ - threats
Tim Peterson

Stop clear-cutting

There are a variety of ways federal agencies rip, shred, and tear down pinyon and juniper forests, but the result is often the same: vast clear-cut swaths of native trees. Exotic grass species are often planted in their place, transforming native vegetation on public lands into feedlots for cows. 

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Image
Blake McCord

PJ - why it matters

Why do pinyon and juniper forests matter?

These scrubby trees have evolved to thrive in the desert Southwest, and they are a key species in our warming climate.

PJ - climate change

Little trees, big impact

Pinyon and juniper trees look like they've had a hard life — and they have. They survive scorching temperatures, snowstorms, wind, drought, just about whatever the desert throws at them. These hardy trees support over 1,000 different species, ranging from insects, to birds, to deer. As the climate warms, pinyon and juniper are two hardy species that will likely be able to persist.

PJ - cultural uses

PJ - cultural uses
Tim Peterson

Cultural uses of pinyon and juniper forests

Just as pinyon and juniper adapted to life on the plateau, Indigenous peoples of the Southwest adapted to life with the constant presence of the trees. Read about the cultural uses of pinyon and juniper, ranging from food, to firewood, to art, and more.

Learn

PJ - Pinyon Jay project

PJ - Pinyon Jay project
Blake McCord

Birdwatchers needed

Grab your binoculars and help us spot pinyon jays. We need volunteers to help gather information about pinyon jays. Knowing where the birds are helps us advocate against clear-cutting of the forests they depend on. 

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On the blog

05/5/22

Four fascinating facts about pinyon jays that will have you ready to birdwatch in the name of conservation.

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01/16/20

Got a sunburn? Put some pinyon salve on it. Dandruff? Try some juniper oil. Read more about the cultural uses of pinyon and juniper trees in the Southwest.

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04/10/19

Pinyon jays recover their cached pine nuts about 95 percent of the time.

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