Forest Health

A survey conducted by the U.S. Forest Service Forest Inventory & Analysis program has provided insight into behavioral patterns and motivating factors for the nation’s 10 million family forest ownerships.

A new study released by the Forest Service addresses the loss of eastern hemlock from forests in the Southern Appalachian region of the United States. The hemlock woolly adelgid, an exotic invasive insect, has caused widespread hemlock mortality," says Steven Brantley, a post-doctoral researcher and lead author of the paper.

American Forests is taking fast and concerted action to address the devastation threatening high-elevation forests across the West. They are collaborating with state and federal agencies, local communities and other nonprofits to create a replicable strategy to protect and restore these forest ecosystems, while educating and engaging citizens and policymakers on the importance of these forests and the threats they face. American Forests is interested in assisting with funding of  restoration and protection in state forests with whitebark pine communities.

Earlier this week Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley signed into law first-of-its-kind legislation that amends Maryland’s forest conservation policy to maintain the State’s current 40 percent tree canopy ─ a no-net-loss. The bill establishes new and expanded reforestation incentives and tools to help landowners and local governments meet and surpass the statewide goal.

Severe weather swings caused by climate change are occurring more frequently and cause problems with drought, blow downs, insect infestations and invasive species in Minnesota. Minnesota State Forester Forrest Boe, said the state presents challenges and opportunities for thermal biomass utilization.

This week NASF joined numerous organizations in the forestry community in letters to the Senate.

Despite a great deal of work in recent years, there is still a lack of understanding of the link between forests and society, the economy and the wider world, the Director of the United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat said, as countries meet in Istanbul to chart a way forward on a number of forestry-related issues.

A unique, web-based Federal resource for finding species in the U. S. and territories, the Biodiversity Information Serving Our Nation (or BISON) is the only system of its kind.

The resource offers more than 100 million mapped records of nearly every living species nationwide and growing. And the vast majority of the records are specific locations, not just county or state records. BISON displays results in both an interactive map and a list format.

When drought hits, trees can suffer—a process that makes sounds. Now, scientists may have found the key to understanding these cries for help.