Forest and Plant Health

Forest and plant health research and management is typically related to disturbance agents such as native and non-native insects, plant diseases, and invasive species. Forests and rangelands are also vulnerable to environmental stresses such as fire and drought. Forest Service scientists evaluate the effects and consequences of these multiple, often interacting, stresses on forest and plant health.

The Rocky Mountain Research Station is developing critical forest health research that informs management. 

• Research on plant diseases and plant pathology includes: studying disease-resistant and drought-resistant tree varieties, understanding tree defenses against disease, developing novel technologies to detect disease and pathogen threats, and testing emerging strategies to manage and prevent plant diseases.
• Research on native and non-native insects includes: understanding insect host selection (how insects pick trees to attack), studying interactions between insect infestations, climate change, and fire, understanding how insect attacks impact tree physiology, research on insects as pollinators, and studying the impacts of insect infestation on forest health and ecosystem services. In particular, the Rocky Mountain Research Station develops key research on bark beetle ecology and management.

Rocky Mountain Research Station scientists often partner with specialists from Forest Health Protection (part of the State, Private, and Tribal Forestry deputy area of the U.S. Forest Service) to create applicable science and tools that improve forest health management. 

Featured work

• Interactions between white pine blister rust, bark beetles, and climate over time indicate vulnerabilities to limber pine health - Research on complex interactions of multiple threats to a keystone tree species