Forest Health Protection

Forest health protection issues include insects, diseases, invasive plants and wildfire. It is a critical aspect of forest management.

Yearly inspections for signs of insects, diseases or invasive plant infestations should be done. The best protection against these pests is creating and maintaining a healthy forest. The type of insects and diseases that may infest your forest depends on the tree species growing in your forest.

Overstocked stands, where there are too many trees per acre, are often susceptible to insect attacks. These stands can be thinned to remove the smaller trees giving the remaining trees more light, water, nutrients, and space to grow. This will increase the vigor of the residual trees and improve the health of the stand. Diseases such as root rots vary based on site characteristics and management practices.

Invasive plants enter your forest along roads, trails, streams, right-of-ways, and on equipment used in management and recreation activities. These plants are not native to your forest and will replace native vegetation. Protecting your forest from invasive exotic plants requires early detection, proper identification, and application of effective control practices.

Wildfire is a major problem, destroying thousands of acres of forestland and surrounding areas each year. Regular prescribed burning to reduce fuel loads, and properly constructed and maintained firebreaks help to guard against losses from wildfire.

Forest monitoring, management and protection activities require access for vehicles and equipment. Forest roads can be constructed to provide year round access and can serve as firebreaks.

More Information on Forest Pests