Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Pando, a 106-acre forest of trembling aspen, is actually a single organism with one root system, making it the largest and oldest known living creature on Earth.
Every tree in Pando is genetically identical, sharing DNA from a root system that has been growing and regenerating for tens of thousands of years beneath the forest floor.
Believed to be up to 80,000 years old, Pando has witnessed ice ages, wildfires, and ecological shifts, surviving through constant renewal of its underground network.
Named after the Latin word “Pando,” meaning “I spread,” this grove spans 43 hectares and weighs approximately 13 million pounds, making it both vast and dense.
Pando thrives through its root system, replacing aging stems with new ones, ensuring continuous regeneration while adapting to environmental changes over millennia.
Today, elk grazing, tourism, and climate change threaten Pando’s growth, disrupting its delicate balance and endangering this living testament to resilience.
Conservationists have fenced parts of Pando to prevent overgrazing and are closely monitoring its growth, ensuring its preservation for future generations.
Pando faces threats from disease, bark beetles, and ungulate browsing, which weaken its ability to regenerate and jeopardize its survival.
With focused conservation efforts, Pando may continue its legacy as a living wonder, outlasting challenges that have brought many species to extinction.