Since the early 2000s, little information has been adequately corroborated about Pando's origins and how its genetic integrity has been sustained over a long period of time, conservatively between 9,000 and 16,000 years old-by the latest (2024) estimate.

[9] Researchers have argued that Pando's future is uncertain due to a combination of factors including drought, cattle grazing, and fire suppression.

[14] There is broad consensus that wildlife controls and protection from deer and elk who feed on the new growth faster than it can reach maturity are critical to Pando's future and care.

[17] Notable organizations that also study and advocate to protect Pando's care include Western Aspen Alliance[18] and Grand Canyon Trust.

[23] Based on Barnes and Kempermans's 1976 paper noting Pando's discovery, Michael Grant, Jeffrey Mitton, and Yan Linhart of the University of Colorado at Boulder re-examined the clone in 1992 and described Pando as a single male aspen clone based on its morphological characteristics such as pollen production, leaves, and root structure.

[24] A large scale genetic sampling and analysis was published in 2008 by Jennifer DeWoody, Karen Mock, Valerie Hipkins and Carol Rowe.

[25] The research team's genetic study confirmed morphological analysis by Barnes and Kemperman as well as Mitton, Grant and Linhart thus, verifying Pando's size and scale of operation.

Data submitted by Fishlake National Forest defined Pando's landmass as mature meaning it could be eligible for special care and protections.

[32] Most agree, based on Barnes' work and later work, that Pando encompasses 42.89 hectares (106 acres), weighs an estimated 6,000 metric tons (6,600 short tons) or 13.2 million pounds, and features an estimated 47,000 stems, which die individually and are replaced by genetically identical stems that are sent up from the tree's vast root system, a process known as "suckering".

[33][34] A 2017 paper by Chen Ding et al. seems to support US Forest Service claims that Pando could not be older than the last Glacial Maximum in the area based on paleo-climate models and genetic traits of aspen sites throughout North America.

[38] A 2024 paper indicates the age could be between 16,000 and 80,000 years old again based on the first somatic mutation model of the tree, but, that research has not finished peer review and also relies on older material and testing methods.

[7] More recent observations, however, have shown seedling establishment of new aspen clones is a regular occurrence and can be abundant on sites exposed by wildfire.

He found seedlings were concentrated in kettles and other topographic depressions, seeps, springs, lake margins, and burnt-out riparian zones.