Dave Breshears, an ecologist with the University of Arizona, classified the 2002-2003 drought as ?EUR??,,????'??hotter.?EUR??,,????'?? Breshears has been studying pinon woodlands since the 1980s. Breshears does not blame the 2002 die-off on human-induced global warming, but said that dramatic drought-induced changes in the Southwest landscape since the 21st century are consistent with global climate change projections. He also believes more frequent, more intense droughts for the region are likely.

U.S. Geological Survey ecologist Julio Betancourt disagreed with conclusions reached by Breshears’ team. Betancourt questioned whether scientists know enough about what happened 50 years ago to be able to compare the two droughts.

Weakened by drought, the trees have become more susceptible to bark beetle infestations, which have also contributed to the declining pinon population. Due to the cause and scale of the mortality, little can be done to save the woodland pinons. Homeowners can use an insecticidal spray on the trunk and larger limbs of uninfested trees as a protective treatment. On large trees, this can require the services of a professional applicator.