Fence Could Save World's Largest Living Thing In Utah, US

The world's largest living thing is dying - and building a huge fence around it could be the only way to save it.

Pando is a forest in Utah, and because it comes from a single root system spread over 43 hectares, it is genetically one organism.
But its oldest trees are reaching the end of their lifespan, and the younger trees that should replace it are being eaten by ravenous deer and cattle.


Paul Rogers from Utah State University said: "It's falling apart on our watch. The old trees are dying and the young ones are being eaten."

The solution could be simple though - building a fence around the entire site to let the trees grow without the threat of predators.
Mr Rogers' team created a fence around a seven hectare area of forest in a test, and it led to more than eight times as many stems sprouting. Now a fence around the entire site is in the pipeline.

Mr Rogers said: "It was a neat surprise that we can get pretty good results with fencing alone."
The trees that make up Pando - which is Latin for 'I spread' - weigh a cumulative 6,000 tonnes.

It is also believed to be the world's most ancient living organism, estimated to be about 80,000 years old.
Other issues affecting the area of Aspen trees include drought, insects and disease, but conservationists believe the fence could be enough to revitalise it in the medium term.

But Sam St. Claire from Brigham Young University in Utah said it probably wouldn't work for endangered forests everywhere because many are far larger and it would be "too expensive".

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