Forest Health and Emerging Issues

Emerald Ash Borer - This is a link to Forest Service information on the Emerald Ash Borer.  This non-native invasive insect has the potential to negatively impact and kill various species of ash trees in the United States.  Ash trees have special cultural significance and are used by many Native American Tribes.  This site contains comprehensive information on the history of the insect, biology of the insect, distribution maps, control measures, publications, and contact information.

Invasive Species - The USDA Forest Service Invasive Species Program website, a portal to Forest Service invasive species information and related management and research activities across the agency and with our many partners. The goal of the USDA Forest Service invasive species program is to reduce, minimize, or eliminate the potential for introduction, establishment, spread, and impact of invasive species across all landscapes and ownerships.

Forest Fire Management Information - This is a link to the Forest Service's Fire and Aviation management home page.  This site contains a lot of information and links.

National Interagency Fire Center. The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) is the nation’s support center for wildlandfire fighting. Seven federal and state agencies work together to coordinate and support wildland fire and disaster operations. These agencies include the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, National Association of State Foresters, National Weather Service, and Office of Aircraft Services.

Healthy Forest Initiative.  The Healthy Forests Initiative (HFI) is a Presidential Initiative launched in August, 2002 to reduce the risks severe wildfires pose to people, communities, and the environment. By protecting forests, woodlands, shrublands, and grasslands from unnaturally intensive and destructive fires, HFI helps improve the condition of our public lands, increases firefighter safety, and conserves landscape attributes valued by society .

Forest Health Protection - Forest Health Protection was formally U.S. Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine and is now the Forest Service organization responsible for minimizing the spread of established invasive species and lessening the damages caused by native insects and diseases. Their program includes: Forest Health Management, Forest Health Monitoring, Technology Development, Technical Assistance, and Pesticide Use Management.

Collaborative Forest Restoration Program - The Community Forest Restoration Act of 2000 (Title VI, Public Law 106-393) established a cooperative forest restoration program in New Mexico to provide cost-share grants to stakeholders for forest restoration projects on public land to be designed through a collaborative process.  This Forest Service site contains information on multi-party monitoring and assessments, summaries of collaborative projects, and information on grant application.  Projects include a diversity of stakeholders in their design and implementation, and address specified objectives, including: wildfire threat reduction; ecosystem restoration, including non-native tree species reduction; reestablishment of historic fire regimes; reforestation; preservation of old and large trees; increased utilization of small diameter trees; and the creation of forest- related local employment.

Tree Search - Search the Forest Service's online Research and Development publications.  Database contains over 10,000 documents on many topics from all of the Forest Service Research Stations.

Collaborative Partnership on Forests - This is the website of an interagency partnership with the goals to support the work of the United Nations Forum on Forests and its member countries, to enhance cooperation and coordination on forest issues, and to promote the sustainable management of all types of forests.