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FOREST HEALTH

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Forest Health

Forest health (President Bush's Healthy Forests Initiative) can be affected by many disturbances such as wildfires, insect infestation, diseases, air pollution, soil erosion, and the rapid spread of non-native plants. Some disturbance is natural and necessary to forest ecosystems; without it, forests could not regrow, recycle, and pass through successive stages from seedlings to old growth. But, when a disturbance causes continuous, severe, or widespread effects, the forest is described as unhealthy.

Partnerships involving federal and state agencies, tribal governments, forest industries, universities, small businesses, communities, and private landowners can provide the needed technical expertise, pest and disease prevention, and restoration activities to help maintain forest health on public and private forest lands, and at the same time, have a positive effect on the economy.

Information and Training

National Gypsy Moth Slow the Spread (STS) Project was created by the USDA Forest Service along with state and other federal agencies to reduce the rate of gypsy moth spread into uninfested areas.

The California Oak Mortality Task Force (COMTF)
(Sudden Oak Death) focuses on the plant pathogen Phytophthora ramorum, which can have devastating effects in the wildlands it inhabits and has had substantial impacts on the nursery industry internationally.

The Emerald Ash Borer is a multi-state effort in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana to bring you the latest information about the emerald ash borer.

Tools for Forest Vegetation Management (VEGTools) shares information on vegetation treatments to achieve forest health goals with natural resource professionals, such as district rangers, fire resource team leaders, silviculturists, and recreation planners.

Four Key Threats-Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth has identified Four Threats to the Health of the Nation’s Forests and Grasslands.

Invasive Species US Forest Service position paper (PDF, 5 pages) describes the background of this issue and the role the Forest Service will play in combating invasives.

Creating Zones of Agreement in Montana

In September 2007, conservationists, motorized users, outfitters, loggers, mill operators, state government and the Forest Service collaboratively established a set of restoration principles to help guide efforts in the state of Montana. Overcoming decades of disparity and indifference, the group developed 13 principles to help steer and evaluate restoration projects, programs and policies. Learn more about their process and the resulting principles...

Organizations

Institute for Culture and Ecology is a nonprofit organization that conducts research and education on complex cultural and environmental relationships and natural resource problem solving, including non-timber forest resource management and biodiversity conservation.

Office of Pest Management Policy coordinates pest management programs across several USDA agencies and oversees the USDA's Pesticide Impact Assessment Program, a multi-agency program jointly administered by the USDA Cooperative State Research Education and Extension Service (CSREES) and the state land-grant universities.

US Forest Service Forest Health Protection works to minimize the spread of invasive forest insects and disease by developing prevention, suppression, and restoration strategies as well as providing technical expertise. Its site includes monitoring information, databases, links to related sites, and publications, including Forest Health updates summarizing the nation's critical forest health concerns, such as the emerald ash borer.

Funding

For funding opportunities related to Forest Health, visit the PRC Funding page.