NC State
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Nonnative tree species have received less scientific attention than nonnative species in general, but when a forest is colonized by a nonnative tree species, the ecological effects can be significant as a change in tree species composition can alter the structural and functional attributes of forest ecosystems. A recent report authored by USDA Forest Service scientists…
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For the last 20 years, researchers from North Carolina State University and the USDA Forest Service have cooperated annually to track the status and trends of forest health across the United States. The latest installment of the annual reports, sponsored by the Forest Health Monitoring (FHM) program of the USDA Forest Service and published by…
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Genetic diversity is essential because it provides a basis for adaptation and resilience to environmental stress and change. The fundamental importance of genetic variation is reflected by its inclusion in criteria and indicator (C&I) systems used to track forest sustainability at the national scale. One example is the Montréal Process Criteria and Indicators for the…
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Every year, the USDA Forest Service Forest Health Monitoring (FHM) program tracks changing forest conditions, including national assessments as well as focused regional analysis. The resulting report is the only national summary of forest health undertaken on an annual basis. Forests constantly change as a result of tree growth and mortality, weather events and climate…
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Plant seeds are the crucial starting point for innumerable conservation projects, from backyard butterfly gardens to large reforestation projects. For the USDA Forest Service and its many partners, tree, shrub, and herbaceous plants’ seeds and seedlings are needed in large numbers for forest restoration and land management work. “In any such effort, it is important…
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Tree species face increasingly serious threats to their genetic integrity, including insect and disease infestation and climate change. At the same time, governments and their partners have limited resources to conserve and manage forest tree genetic diversity. [pullquote color=”wolfpackred”]Conservation practitioners need to apply rational, systematic, and defensible approaches to prioritize species and allocate of scarce…
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Forests are complex ecosystems. They are constantly changing as a result of tree growth, variations in weather and climate, and disturbances from fire, pathogens, and other stressors. The USDA Forest Service Forest Health Monitoring (FHM) program tracks these ongoing changes — every year, across the nation — as a forest health check up. The 2018…
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Hemlock woolly adelgid, gypsy moth, emerald ash borer: ask any USDA Forest Service scientist which insects and diseases pose a threat to our forests, and they could probably name a baker’s dozen. A huge number of insects and diseases have the potential to negatively affect tree species in the United States. However, the danger…
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Managing invasive species is one of the largest challenges that land managers face. They threaten the health of natural ecosystems, prevent the growth of native species, and leave landowners with significant amounts of damage. “More than 4,300 exotic plant species and 66 foreign pest species that can cause negative effects on forest ecosystems and…
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The paper “Divergence of species responses to climate change,” coauthored by Kevin Potter, a faculty member in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources at North Carolina State University, has been awarded the 2019 W.S. Cooper Award by the Ecological Society of America. The award is given annually to an outstanding publication in the field…
Kevin Potter Ecology 