Full Project Title: Science support: Early detection and planned mitigation of invasive threats to southern forests

Project Identification Number: NNIS2

This project builds a new partnership between states, universities, industry, and all deputy areas of the Forest Service that will allow partners to respond to new threats to southern pines in a timely, consistent manner. The project is designed to address two significant needs:

• A communication network among participants to report unusual mortality and develop a reporting mechanism for observations of suspected invasive insects or pathogens, and 
• An early warning system for departures from expected mortality, with FIA data as a critical component.

The project goals include:

• A region-wide system for early evaluation and detection of tree mortality from high-impact invasive species; 
• A common decision tree that standardizes onsite evaluations of impacts; 
• A real-time database on wood movement across the region to inform targeted response efforts, including quarantine; and 
• A central, comprehensive communication hub to provides real-time information on new invasive species plus effective control and management strategies for all stakeholders, called the pine pandemic preparedness plan (P4) for the southern U.S.

This projected was approved in FY 2022 under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Provision 40804(b)(6).