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FOREST OPERATIONS

[TUSAF ]     -     [ Residual Stand Protection ]     -     [ Forest Regeneration ]     -     [ Getting Help From Professionals ]     -     [ Aesthetics ]
[ Controlling Insects, Disease, Invasives, and Fire ]     -     [ Biomass Utilization ]     -     [ Soil and Water Resource Quality ]
 

Controlling Insects, Disease, Invasives, and Wildfire

Like all living things, forests are susceptible to a host of potential health threats including wildfires, insect attacks, and diseases. In addition, invasive species often outcompete and displace natives and can be very difficult to remove from the landscape once established. While a landowner's control over these threats is limited, certain management actions will help protect their investment by minimizing their forest’s risk to damage. To maintain the health of a forest, prevention is the best approach.

 

 

Uninvited: The Spread of Invasive Species [Video Documentary]

 
   

Wildfire

 

Wildfire frequency and intensity vary based on location, climate, and types of trees. The northeastern United States has a temperate climate with year-round precipitation. As a result, eastern wildfires are generally low in intensity and burn fuels on the forest floor. Sometimes, these fires can actually be beneficial to the forest. Wildfire risk is greater in the Northeast during the spring and fall months when leaves are off the trees. In the spring, after the snow melts and before the new foliage emerges, the sun warms and dries last year’s fallen leaves. Similarly, in the fall the air is drier and low pressure systems often bring frequent winds that can dry leaves and slash and carry fires.

Pennsylvania DCNR Bureau of Forestry is responsible for protecting the Commonwealth's 17 million acres of public and private wildlands from damage by wildfire. This is accomplished by a combination of wildfire prevention, preparedness, suppression and investigation. The bureau works with fire wardens and volunteer fire departments to promote the latest advances in fire prevention and suppression.

 

Prescribed Fire

 

Did you know fire can also be good for people and the land? After many years of fire exclusion, an ecosystem that needs periodic fire becomes unhealthy. Trees are stressed by overcrowding; fire-dependent species disappear; and flammable fuels build up and become hazardous. The right fire at the right place at the right time can reduce hazardous fuels, remove unwanted species that threaten native ecosystems, enhance wildlife habitat, recycle nutrients back to the soil, and promote the growth of trees, wildflowers, and other plants.

 
 

 

 

Insects and Disease

 

Most people think that wildfires cause most of the tree mortality in our forests. One study of forest tree mortality factors indicates that in the United States, insects account for 41% and diseases cause 26% of the tree mortality. Put another way, insects and diseases together are responsible for killing two out of every three trees that die in our nation's forests. In general, with respect to insect and disease pests, keep in mind that healthy trees are usually much less susceptible to pest damage.

 

Invasive Plants

 

Invasive species are highly adaptable to different habitats, grow quickly or reproduce abundantly, are difficult to eradicate and can negatively impact our native species. Exotic invasive species are those plants, animals and pathogens that are not native to an area and can cause harm to the environment, to the economy and to human health. While not all exotic species are invasive, some can really do damage to our public and private lands. In their natural range, these species are limited by environmental, pest or disease conditions, keeping these species in balance within their ecosystem. When introduced into an area where these limitations are absent, some species have the ability to become invasive. While there are many different invasive species in Pennsylvania, there is a wealth of information out there to help you manage them.

 

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