Forest health
Forest health
The term forest health is commonly used to indicate the condition of a particular forest or stand and is in constant flux; after all, the nature of nature is change. To get a feel for the complexities encountered when trying to define forest health, where forest health is defined as “a condition of forest ecosystems that sustains their complexity while providing for human needs.” Choose from the sections below to deepen your understanding and apply your newfound knowledge to your forestlands.
Forest insects and diseases
Forest insects and diseases are natural parts of forest environments. But when there is an outbreak or an introduced problem, losses can be extensive and expensive.
Related resources
- Field guide to diseases and insect pests of northern and central rocky mountain conifers (USDA FS R1-03-08).
- Leaf spot of aspen and poplar, CIS 1202
- Slime flux of trees, CIS 1205
- Pacific Northwest Plant Disease Management Handbook
- Management of white pine weevil in spruce, CIS 1133
- Pacific Northwest Insect Management Handbook
Forest soils and nutrition
Commonly overlooked, healthy soils are critical to the success of forestland environments. Explore the world of forest soils and nutrition and learn more about this often ignored, but crucial, component of our forest environments.
Related resources
- Managing organic debris for forest health: reconciling fire hazard, bark beetles, wildlife and forest nutrition needs, PNW 609
- USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service Soils
Identifying and controlling invasive plants
You may not want them, but you got them. Invasive plants, usually referred to as weeds, are undesirable or troublesome plants that usually grow profusely where they are not wanted.
Refine your knowledge about individual invasive plants species, and how to control them, by choosing from the selections below.
Related resources
UI Extension publications
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