According to the National Plant Germplasm System there are three accessions at the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station in Ames, Iowa, and one accession at National Arboretum. These accessions date back to 1990, and there is no indication that these have been checked for viability. Given that the current ex situ collections are nearly 20 years old, re-collection and storage are recommended. The 1985 recovery plan indicates that ex situ seed collections are not a priority and are unnecessary because of the 20 established populations. The author of this profile believes that ex situ seed collections is a priority, particularly for the single natural population.

Since 1975 the number of trees in the one natural population steadily declined to only 11 individuals in 1984. In response to this and the fact of only one population, twenty populations were created on Forest service lands using nursery-grown seedlings. Although vandalism initially threatened the seedling recovery program, the total current population is now over 961 trees. To date, however, none of the populations seem to be expanding

First noticed in 1918, this taxon was not seen again until 1975 when the single population (then consisting of 41 trees) was rediscovered in Smyth County, Virginia. Since that time, the number of individuals in the natural, native population has steadily declined from eleven in 1984 to eight in 2003. In the early 1980's an aggressive recovery plan, involving planting greenhouse-grown seedlings at various sites, was implemented. Although vandalism initially threatened the recovery program, in 2003 there were 953 planted individuals alive. Whether these trees will be capable of competing and reproducing successfully remains to be seen. Lack of natural reproduction is a major threat.

A primary threat is that B. uber has only one natural population, although 20 additional populations have been established on Forest Service lands. The original population has three contiguous ownerships that include the U.S. Forest Service (Mount Rogers

Since 1975 the number of trees in the one natural population steadily declined to only 11 individuals in 1984. In response to this and the fact of only one population, twenty populations were created on Forest service lands using nursery-grown seedlings. Although vandalism initially threatened the seedling recovery program, the total current population is now over 961 trees. To date, however, none of the populations seem to be expanding.

There does not seem to be any current research on B. uber.

Management of B. uber does not appear to be an ongoing priority according to the 5-year recovery plan review (Davis 2006).

Because the systematics of B. uber remains unresolved, additional genetic analysis in addition to further controlled breeding experiments are warranted. Preliminary results from Shariks (1984) cross-pollination study between B. uber and B. lenta indicate that the round-leaf character may segregate (in Mendelian fashion) as a homozygous recessive trait. Arthur Cronquist visited the B. uber population in 1988 and suggested that the taxon may not be more than a form or B. lenta (J. Randall, pers. comm.). There are, however, morphological and chemical characters that support maintaining B. uber as a distinct species. Additional studies will, however, unlikely unravel if the single existing natural population of B. uber is the last or first of its kind. According to Sharik (1990) mast years and natural disturbance do not tend to coincide with B. uber. And given that mechanical disturbance by removing leaf litter during a mast year in 1981 facilitated the germination of 82 seedlings, attention should be paid to assisted disturbance when a mast year is apparent. This management approach should be done in the natural population in addition to as many of the 20 planted populations as possible. Prescribed disturbance should also be a management priority since B. uber is probably a relatively short lived tree based on the life history of B. lenta.

According to the National Plant Germplasm System there are three accessions at the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station in Ames, Iowa, and one accession at National Arboretum. These accessions date back to 1990, and there is no indication that these have been checked for viability. Given that the current ex situ collections are nearly 20 years old, re-collection and storage are recommended. The 1985 recovery plan indicates that ex situ seed collections are not a priority and are unnecessary because of the 20 established populations. The author of this profile believes that ex situ seed collections is a priority, particularly for the single natural population.