Forest Health

Sound forest management can help you have a healthy forest. The best way to protect the your woodlands is to stay informed of threats in your area and monitor for signs of their presence.

ATFS Standard 5, Indicator 5.3.1
Landowner should make practical efforts to promote forest health, including prevention, control or response to disturbances such as wildland fire, invasive species and other pests, pathogens or unwanted vegetation, to achieve specific management objectives.

 

	GENERAL INFORMATION Healthy forests sustain plant and animal species, provide clean air and water, and a broad range of forest products. Read more about some of the threats to forest health and actions landowners can take to address them.
	DISEASES Each year, more timber is lost to diseases than to insects, weather and fire combined.
	INSECTS Good forest management can reduce damage due to pests.
	NON-NATIVE INVASIVE SPECIES Invasive species have both economic and environmental impacts on your forest.  Your forest management should focus on preventing the introduction of invasives onto your property and identifying and controlling them if they are already present.
	OTHER THREATS Drought, wildfire, climate change, hurricanes and other storms can all have an impact on the health of your forest. Learn what you can do to minimize their impact.