Assessment & Applied Sciences
Forest Health Protection Hot Topics Carousel
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Caterpillars Wreak Destruction
Caterpillars Impact National Forests in New Mexico
Bark Beetle Tree Mortality
Tree Mortality Summary of Western Bark Beetles Now Available
Genetic Resistance
Planting Trees to Conserve Genetic Resistance to White Pine Blister Rust in Southwestern White Pine
Ips Outbreaks
Drought Causes IPS Bark Beetle Outbreaks
2021 TCD Guidelines
2021 Guidelines for the National Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD) Survey Are Now Available
Forest Health News
Explore articles and information on current forest insect and disease conditions across the United States.
Mapping & Reporting
Forest Health Protection (FHP) Mapping & Reporting conducts surveys to detect and appraise insect infestations, disease conditions and man-made stresses affecting trees. FHP Mapping & Reporting establishes a monitoring system throughout the forests of the United States to determine detrimental changes or improvements that occur over time, and report annually concerning such surveys and monitoring.
Insect and Disease Survey Map
Aerial Survey
Aerial Survey include insect and disease surveys, aerial photography and aerial application to assist federal and state partners and the public in meeting forest health objectives. The primary function of FHP aviation is to implement safe and efficient operations considering state of the art tools, technology, and philosophy embracing the principles of sound risk management applied throughout the system.
Inside the cockpit during an aerial survey flight.
Biological Control
The Biological Control program is tiered to the broader Forest Service's National Strategic Framework for Invasive Species Management as well as regional plans dealing with invasive species. The Biological Control program focuses its resources on a few insects and weed species that have the greatest potential for biological control.
Mile-a-minute weevil (Rhinoncomimus latipes) on vine. Photo by Ellen Lake, University of Delaware, Bugwood.org
Biopesticides
The Biopesticides Program serves as an up-to-date information source on biopesticides, biologically based products such as semiochemicals and microbial agents, used by State, Private, and Tribal Forestry staffs nationwide, for short-term control of invasive species.
Larva of the Douglas-fir tussock moth, Orgyia psuedotsugata, on white fir. Photo by Donald Owen, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Bugwood.org
Publications
The Forest Health Assessment & Applied Sciences Team (FHAAST) produces publications, reports, and posters that address forest health-related disturbances. Topics include forest insects and diseases, native and invasive species, biological control, biopesticides, aerial survey, forest disturbance detection and risk assessment.
Biological control publication cover.
Forest Vegetation Simulator Models
The Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) is a family of models used for predicting forest stand dynamics (tree growth, mortality, regeneration, management, disturbance, etc.) throughout the United States. The Forest Health Assessment and Applied Sciences Team supports a variety of insect and pathogen models that allow FVS users to incorporate forest pest disturbances into their FVS projections.
Image represents a stand of Douglas-fir in the Fremont National Forest as simulated with the South Central Oregon Northeastern California variant of the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) and the Dwarf Mistletoe Model. View animation (Opens in new window/tab) 