Without fire they will no longer be able to reproduce and would die off as a species. This species like a moist climate, this is why it is found in the fog belt, up to six miles inland in California and 1000' inland on Guadalupe Island. They like coarse soils, such as sand, and grow on slopes. Fossils in that region prove this. It became extinct in the early beginning of the Pleistocene period.
Fossils show that the Monterey pine was more widespread in California than now.
In other words the closer in size the cones, the closer the trees are related to each other. Seed protein of the Monterey pine was also compared. The most abundant growth is found on the Carmel slopes next to Monterey. Because of its rapid growth of up to 9 feet per year it is planted for reforestation projects and as paper making. It is very commonly planted for commercial reasons in various parts of the world.