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FOREST HEALTH COMPONENTS
Table of Contents
Natural phenomena and the actions of people can dramatically affect the health of forest ecosystems. Traditionally we refer to these phenomena and actions as destructive agents because their effects on forest ecosystems are visibly devastating. The actions and interactions of these agents influence forest health. "The mission of the Bureau of Forestry is to ensure the long-term health, viability and productivity . . ." Thus, protecting the health of the forest ecosystem is critical to the overall ecosystem management effort of the Bureau of Forestry. Historically, forest health-related efforts have been divided into two program areas: The Division of Forest Fire Protection (FFP) and the Division of Forest Pest Management (FPM). While these two program areas will provide leadership and direction for forest fire protection and forest pest management, managing for ecosystem health will require the involvement and cooperation of other program areas such as the Ecological Services Section, Silviculture Section, and Resource Planning and Information Division.
Forest Health and Pest Management The Division of Forest Pest Management is responsible for protecting state forest land from forest diseases and insect. As is true with all Bureau of Forestry operations, the fundamental obligation is the safety and health of its employees and the general public. Within that constraint the division's objective is to manage the health of the Commonwealth's forests in a manner that will limit forest value losses. The division currently operates two sections to focus on forest health issues and forest pest suppression. The Forest Health Section is responsible for surveying, evaluating and monitoring insect and disease related forest influences. Various projects are implemented for the prevention, detection, diagnosis, investigation and evaluation of forest pest problems. The Forest Pest Suppression Section is responsible for statewide forest pest suppression projects that involve the use of biological control agents or pesticides on both state and private forestlands. The section also develops forest pest information and technology development and transfer. In addition to maintaining staff in the Central Office in Middletown, several FPM personnel are located in Forest District offices to serve as regional specialists to support management activities on state forest and private land. The Forest Pest Management Division's daily operations and ongoing monitoring and research projects directly affect the management of state forest land. A few examples of current research and management efforts include: Hemlock and hemlock woolly adelgid management. For additional information, please visit FPM's website: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/woollyadelgid/index.htm Sugar maple decline in northern Pennsylvania. A variety of research cooperators (USDA-Forest Service) have worked with Bureau of Forestry staff to identify and investigate environmental factors associated with sugar maple decline on the unglaciated regions of the Allegheny Plateau. This research has demonstrated that trees growing in soils with inadequate levels of available calcium and magnesium are vulnerable to decline following repeated insect defoliations. Presently the project is developing management tools for foresters to facilitate recognition of soil nutrient indicator plant species associated with healthy sugar maple production and for implementation of pest suppression programs. "Disturbance History" studies on state forest land to investigate relationships between current forest health conditions and past forest management practices and disturbance events. The project establishes an historical timber sale GIS layer to link timber sale locations (spatial data) with number of tree stem removals by tree species and volume (non-spatial data) for all timber management compartments from 1955 to the present. The historical information is available to foresters for evaluating past management practices and defoliation history on current forest stand composition, condition, and production. The division is developing a Pennsylvania Forest Health Geographic Information System (GIS) to spatially monitor changes in forest health conditions over time. The division has been active in the implementation of a new set of national Forest Inventory and Analysis plots (approximately 4,500 plots in Pennsylvania) of which approximately 315 plots support the Forest Health Monitoring program in Pennsylvania. A nationwide grid of 39,909 plots are used to collect tree growth, tree condition, and forest vegetation data that can be used to evaluate the growth, productivity, and ecological conditions of forests throughout the United States. This is a long term program that was first initiated in the 1990s to provide information that can be used to predict and document changes in America's forests at the county, state, regional, national, and international level. For additional information, visit FIA's website: http://www.fs.fed.us/ne/fia/states/pa/pa.html The gypsy moth continues to be a serious forest pest. A gypsy moth control program is conducted in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and participating Pennsylvania counties. Funding for the program comes from the State General Fund, USDA Forest Service, and local counties. In 2002 over 58,000 acres were treated at a cost of slightly more than $1 million. Approximately 50,000 acres of forestland were moderately to severely defoliated in 2002, however, estimates for 2003 indicate that the naturally occurring fungus disease of the gypsy moth has caused a population reduction. Despite the presence of the fungus disease, gypsy moth will continue to be a threat to our forests and the Bureau of Forestry will continue efforts to minimize defoliation and tree mortality. The division is actively involved in a cooperative effort among state and federal agencies to develop and implement an early detection and rapid response effort for forest pests and non-native invasive species in Pennsylvania, including the identification of critical priority species or areas of concern. Survey plans for 2003 are being developed for the emerald ash borer and sudden oak death. The Forest Pest Management Division is in the process of developing a strategic plan to help guide future efforts of forest health management. To fully protect and enhance the health of the state forest ecosystem the Bureau of Forestry places great emphasis on adopting and adapting the latest technological advances to management activities. The bureau uses an integrated pest management (IPM) approach for managing insects, diseases and other damaging agents. IPM involves monitoring forest health for early problem detection, identifying factors that may minimize their effect, and when necessary, suppressing major outbreaks and established populations using methods that target the problem without producing significant adverse impacts on the forest ecosystem. The bureau will scrutinize the use of pesticides and herbicides on state forest land. All employees who are responsible for the application of these substances will continue to be properly trained in their handling and use. Chemical pesticide application on state forest land will be considered only when other alternatives have been exhausted. For additional information on specific operating guidelines related to forest pest management, refer to the operating manuals and documents referenced in the Guidelines and Actions Section. Forest Fire Protection Ninety-eight percent of wildfires in Pennsylvania are human caused. The bureau's effort to reduce the occurrence of wildfires is through wildfire prevention education and technical assistance, especially in the wild land/urban interface. The Bureau of Forestry is responsible for the prevention and suppression of wildfire on the 17,000,000 acres of wildland throughout Pennsylvania. The Division of Forest Fire Protection in the Bureau of Forestry maintains a fire detection system and works with local fire wardens and volunteer fire departments to ensure that they are trained in the latest advances in fire prevention and suppression. The division also enters into partnerships with other states and federal agencies to share knowledge and resources. The division contains two sections: The Wildfire Operations Section is responsible for fire suppression, fire suppression training, surveillance, and operations of contract aircraft. The section is responsible for supporting field personnel, collecting and processing fire claims, and providing trained fire suppression personnel to other states during wildfire emergencies. The Wildfire Services Section is responsible for enhancing public safety and awareness in wildfire prevention through education, fire prevention training, enforcement activities, and the development of new fire technology. The section conducts special investigations throughout the bureau as assigned and coordinates the distribution of federal funds and equipment to local fire forces and acquires federal excess to supplement bureau fire equipment.
Recent Concerns, Issues & Programs Prescribed Fire There is increasing concern among natural resource professionals that fire dependent community types are being lost through the processes of natural succession and the exclusion of fire. To help sustain fire dependent community types in Pennsylvania, the Bureau of Forestry is working closely with the Ecosystem Management Advisory Committee (EMAC). The EMAC has identified the Bioreserve Strategy as a potential method for identifying and developing management plans for fire dependent community types. This effort should give better insight on how to proceed on this issue. Additionally, several forest districts have been working closely with researchers from the US Forest Service on using prescribed fire to help obtain oak regeneration. The bureau has had success and will continue these research efforts and explore options for using prescribe burning more often as a silvicultural tool. The use of prescribed fire is increasing in Pennsylvania and the Bureau of Forestry will stay up to date with current research, assist in planning prescribed burns, and take necessary precautions to ensure that accidents are avoided. The fire laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania were enacted over 80 years ago. While these laws are strong, several sections of the legislation need updated to address the issue of using prescribed fire as a management tool. The Bureau of Forestry will explore this issue in cooperation with interested parties, including the EMAC, natural resource conservancies, scientists, and local volunteer fire companies and organizations. Pollution and Environmental Concerns Pollution from abandoned coal mines and oil and gas wells is a problem on some state forest sites. The sources of many of these pollutants have not been fully documented and funds are needed to take appropriate remedial measures. An excess of atmospheric gases may be affecting forest health in some parts of the Commonwealth. Acidic deposits and ozone, combined with other stress factors, have been hypothesized to contribute to forest decline and mortality on some portions of state forest land. The bureau will continue to monitor this situation and turn to our partners for advice on measures that minimize these effects on the forest ecosystem. For additional information on acid precipitation, refer to the Soil Resources Section of the SFRMP. Current knowledge is limited on the processes of carbon cycling and sequestration. More research is needed before the bureau can take measures relating to these concerns. Litter Illegally deposited waste and litter are threats to ecosystem health on state forest land. The Forest Lands Beautification legislation (Act 125 of 1998) provides up to $1,500,000 per year to the Bureaus of State Parks and Forestry to address these situations. The Bureau of Forestry has developed a grants program for education, enforcement, and clean-up strategies that deal with this problem. Forest Lands Beautification How the Program Works The Forest Lands Beautification Program allocates $1.5 million every year for five years. DCNR administers the program, and works with partners to:
Cleaning up with PA CleanWays DCNR selected PA CleanWays, a non-profit organization that has been battling littering for more than a decade, to oversee the cleanup effort. PA CleanWays focuses its efforts on community involvement - bringing together concerned citizens, waste haulers, outdoor enthusiasts, government officials, business representatives, and others interested in cleaning Pennsylvania's forest and park lands. DCNR and PA CleanWays employ several tactics to clean up sites, and to protect forests against future dumping:
http://www.cleanpaforests.org/index.html Land development Land development adjacent to state forest land is a concern. This poses a threat to forest health through fragmentation. There is a potential for surface and ground water contamination due to sewage system failure, excessive storm water run-off, and increased potential for wildfire due to careless burning. The spread and introduction of destructive forest agents (e.g., insects and diseases) and invasive species from adjacent lands are also a concern. The bureau will develop a strategy to deal with issues involving adjacent land. The occurrence of wildfires and destructive native forest insects and diseases in Pennsylvania predates the onset of European exploration and settlement of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Native American inhabitants used fire as a tool to maintain and manipulate the floral composition of their environment. Early written accounts also document the use of fire by Native Americans as a method of driving game animals during hunts. European settlers utilized fire as a tool to augment the efforts of the axe and oxen in clearing land of stumps, logs, and brush to make way for their crops and dwellings. The increase in the use of fire to clear land and the loss of control of these fires became so widespread that between 1700 and 1735, the colonial government passed a series of laws against "unreasonable firing of woods." The laws also established liability for the damages these fires caused to forests, croplands and villages. Although largely ineffective, the passage of such laws shows the concern about the consequences of wildfire in Penn's Woods. As demand for lumber and other forest products increased, forest values changed. The vast tracts of timber that early settlers saw as an obstacle to their agricultural pursuits became a valuable commodity. Pennsylvania led the nation in lumber production in the late 1800s and by the turn of the century, most of our forest lands had been logged. These cut over mountains and hills became sun-baked tinder waiting for a spark to ignite them. Large fires burned for weeks, destroying not only the young forest but the soils as well. Many of these fires burned unchecked until extinguished by rain or snow. On June 3, 1915, Governor Martin G. Brumbaugh (1862-1930) signed Act 353, PLL 797 establishing the Bureau of Forest Protection within the Department of Forestry and vesting the bureau with the responsibility of preventing, controlling, and extinguishing fires on all forested land in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Between 1914 and 1940 the Bureau of Forestry erected more than 150 steel forest fire observation towers across the state to aid in the early detection of wildfires. Since then, the bureau has adopted an aggressive fire warden system designed to promote fire prevention activities, and to suppress wildfires when they occur. Air tankers are on site and used during spring and fall fire seasons to aid ground crews when needed. Currently, the use of satellite imagery is being investigated to aid in the early detection of forest fires. Following the effects of the massive logging activities and uncontrolled fires in the late 1800's and early 1900's, the next major problem to impact the health of state forest land was the discovery of the lethal chestnut blight fungus. This disease, despite an intensive eradication program, spread from where it was introduced along the Main Line area of Philadelphia south and west throughout the range of chestnut. It is believed that, chestnut made up about 20% of woody stems present in the forest. Today, chestnut is represented in our forests as small (rarely 10-14 inch DBH trees) sprouts that develop from the root systems of the original blight-killed trees. These sprouts rarely last longer than five years before dying from the blight. The growing space vacated by the chestnut was rapidly filled by various species of oaks and helped to set the stage for future pest problems that would significantly impact the forest ecosystem in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The early 1900's also saw the emergence of a threat to another important component of the forest ecosystem. It was at this time that white pine blister rust was introduced into this country. In the 1930's, the response of forest managers to this threat took the form of a control program in which millions of gooseberry and currant bushes (the alternate hosts of this disease-causing fungus) were destroyed by the Civil Conservation Corp, Works Progress Administration, and later, state and federal employees. Subsequently, it was determined that due to the environmental conditions in Pennsylvania, the probability of the disease being economically important was small in most areas of the state, and the massive ribes eradication program was discontinued. Today, white pine blister rust occurs in isolated areas of the state and is dealt with on a local basis. In 1932 the first introduced gypsy moth was found in Luzerne and Lackawanna countie Early attempts to eradicate the insect with lead arsenate and DDT initially slowed the spread of the insect but did not eradicate it. In 1963, as concerns over the adverse side effects of DDT increased, its use was abandoned in favor of less persistent and less effective insecticides. The insect began a slow but steady move across Pennsylvania. Since 1932, the gypsy moth has caused noticeable defoliation on almost all of the susceptible oak forest type in Pennsylvania. Losses of oaks, the preferred species, have ranged from zero to 99% in some small, localized areas. This insect has had a profound effect upon the management of state forest land. Management plans for oak stands changed from being proactive to salvaging dead and dying oaks and regenerating forests where the regeneration component is at risk from injury or destruction from white-tailed deer. In 1971, following the passage of Act 275, the bureau assumed responsibility for gypsy moth suppression and began a program that used improved spray application technology, lowered rates of insecticide application, and finally, an almost total reliance on biological insecticides for forest insect management. The bureau also expanded the biological control program. Thirty different species of parasitoids of the gypsy moth (and six for other forest pests) were reared and released and one new species was successfully established. In the 1990's, the gypsy moth fungus was spread artificially throughout Pennsylvania to aid in the management of this insect. This fungus is currently the major factor in controlling the gypsy moth in the commonwealth. In the 1970's, the larch sawfly was particularly damaging to larch plantations. Following early attempts to control this defoliator with insecticides, a parasitoid of the sawfly, was imported from Europe, introduced into the affected stands in the late 1970's. The parasitoid has effectively controlled the sawfly since its release. In the early 1970's, the oak leaf-roller, a native defoliator of trees in the white oak group, became widespread in north-central Pennsylvania. Various biological control agents, including a predator (the 15-spotted ladybird beetle) were instrumental in causing the collapse of that outbreak. The oak leaf-roller has remained a minor forest pest following the population collapse in 1973. Northern hardwoods have a number of insect and disease problems. Beech bark disease, a combination of a scale insect and canker-causing fungus, is responsible for the death or disfigurement of approximately 90% of the beech trees in the northern and northeastern regions of the Commonwealth. Research results indicate approximately 10% of beech trees appear to be resistant to the insect, and therefore to the fungus which causes the mortality and disfigurement. Future management procedures require using silvicultural techniques that discriminate against susceptible individuals and encourage the continuation of those resistant to the insect. The regeneration and restoration of some degree of biological diversity to the large areas of highly defective "beech brush" created by this fungus is of great concern and challenge to the bureau in this new management period. Intervention in the form of herbicides, or mechanical destruction of the beech brush is currently practiced to aid in reducing the amount of susceptible beech trees and reestablishing a more biologically diverse forest. Sugar maple decline and mortality is another concern in the northern hardwood forests of Pennsylvania. Twenty years of research and study have led us to determine this decline is largely the result of a composite of factors. Factors include: limited nutrient status of soils in non-glaciated areas (primarily ridge tops) and a combination of adverse weather, attack by pear thrips, elm spanworm, fall cankerworm, an anthracnose-causing fungus, and possibly, acid deposit. Work continues to suppress the factors involved in this decline. However, herbaceous indicator plants have been identified which indicate sites favorable to maintaining a healthy sugar maple section. Work is also continuing on the need for forest fertilization and other activities that will mitigate the effects of these factors on the sugar maple resource. Act No. 18 of 1995 reaffirmed that the Bureau of Forestry is responsible for the protection of "all forestland" in the Commonwealth from "fungi, insects, and other enemies." In line with this mandate, an objective has been established to manage the health of the forests of the Commonwealth in a manner that will limit related forest ecosystem health losses. The bureau has adopted a policy of using integrated pest management (IPM) techniques to mitigate the effects of destructive forest agents on the health of the forest ecosystem. IPM is a decision-making and implementation process, which incorporates ecological, economic, aesthetic, and environmental evaluations of the problem to determine the proper intervention techniques and other actions to promote and maintain a biologically diverse and healthy forest ecosystem. A certain level of damage to the forest is natural and expected. To achieve its mandate and objective, the bureau provides educational and technical assistance as needed and conducts studies and programs to detect, quantify, evaluate, and suppress those factors influencing the health of the forest ecosystem. White-tailed deer populations in excess of 20 per square mile are common in many areas of state forest land and such populations are largely responsible for the lack of woody and herbaceous regeneration. Deer exclusion fence studies have documented that deer populations of 16 per square mile or less allow regeneration of woody and herbaceous species to occur, thus preserving the species diversity present in the forest when normal bureau harvesting activities occur. In 1995, in recognition of the severity of this problem, the Pennsylvania legislature created the Forest Regeneration Fund that authorized the bureau to utilize up to 10% (currently about two million dollars per year) of the timber receipts to fund procedures to address the forest regeneration problem. In addition to the use of fencing, tree shelters, fertilization, and various types of site preparation to overcome the deer problem, the bureau has joined with the Sand County Foundation in a series of collaborative projects known as "Quality Hunting Ecology". These projects, currently underway on two sites, are designed to experimentally test and demonstrate to the public new management options in deer and forest management. The philosophy is to use a series of incentives, public participation, and education to engage deer hunters as active and responsible managers of the deer herd and the habitats they depend on. The major goals are to manage the deer herd at a level, which ensures forest biodiversity and sustainability and deer herd health, and to develop the land stewardship ethic within hunters and the general public. Insect and Disease Inventory and Information Forest Health Manual - Manual is in development, contact the Division of Forest Pest Management. Cooperative Forest Insect Pest Suppression Program - Operating Procedure and Deadlines Manual - Contact Division of Forest Pest Management for a copy of the manual. Forest Insect and Disease Report Form Forest District Insect & Disease Coordination Duties Forest Health Fact Sheets - http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/leaflets/leaflet.htm Important Insect and Disease Pests of Pennsylvania's Forests - http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/pests/intro.htm Forest Pest Management Newsletters - http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/fpm.htm Hemlock woolly adelgid information - http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/woollyadelgid/index.htm Division of Forest Pest Management Strategic Plan Historical Defoliation and Forest Damage Information - Contact Division of Forest Pest Management Fire Inventory and Information Recent Fire History The following Internet links access data on the number of fires and acres burned by cause and forest district. The Forest Fire Protection Division of the Bureau of Forestry compiled and reports this information. http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/ffp/ffp.htm The health of state forest ecosystems will be maintained and enhanced through safely conducted active management, monitoring, prevention, and suppression of destructive forest agents.
Goals
Indicators: Criteria 1: Conservation of biological diversity.
Criteria 3: Maintenance of forest ecosystem health and vitality.
Criteria 4: Conservation and maintenance of soil and water resources.
Criteria 7: Legal, institutional and economic framework for forest conservation and sustainable management.
Fire Guidelines Each forest district maintains a current Forest Fire Control and Resource plan, which provides the district with a standard, constantly revised, action and resource study assembled in one place to facilitate the dispersion of information. Below is an outline of the Michaux Forest District Fire Plan. Michaux State Forest District Forest Fire Control and Resource Plan
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