Forest Health Monitoring
The USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Monitoring (FHM) is a national program designed to determine the status, trends, and future of forest conditions using an indicator-based approach on an annual basis. The FHM program integrates data from ground and aerial surveys, risk assessments, remote sensing, and other sources to assess forest health issues that affect the sustainability of forest ecosystems. FHM assesses conditions on all forest land through a partnership involving USDA Forest Service, State Foresters, other state and federal agencies, Tribal Nations, non-governmental organizations, and academic groups.
Forest Health Mega-Regions reflect Forest Health Monitoring's focus on capturing and reporting forest health conditions on a widespread basis. The nation's forests are divided into the five Mega-Regions based on geographic and biological proximity. A management team represented by individuals from a diversity of partners including state agencies advises FHM on strategic direction and facilitates information exchange.
FHM Program Components
- Survey and Detection—Collection of information from nationally standardized aerial and ground surveys, remote sensing, change detection tools, and other sources to provide valuable insight on how forest conditions.
- Analysis—Interpretation of how status and trends are influencing forest sustainability now and into the future.
- Communications—presentation of forest health data and analysis in a variety of formats to inform decision-making.
More Information
Annual Forest Health Highlights by State or Mega Region. View highlights