Tongass National Forest Plan Maintenance Program

Monitoring Program

Insects and Disease

Forest Plan Objectives and Monitoring Plan Questions

The following objectives, monitoring questions, evaluation criteria, and adaptive feedback mechanisms are identified in Table 6-1 of the 2008 Forest Plan.

Objective

Assess whether management activities contribute to increasing levels of destructive insect and disease organisms and aid in preventing infestation as a result of management.

Monitoring Plan Question

Are destructive insects and disease organisms increasing to potentially damaging levels following management activities?

Sampling/Reporting Period

Annual/5 Year

Evaluation Criteria

Identify and quantify areas where insects and disease are occurring: HEALTH1.

Data and Inventory Sources

Data is from a variety of sources and often does not include precision and accuracy information, but rather comes from a qualitative description of conditions for a given area by trained forest health professionals. A primary source of forest health information comes from State and Private Forestry's annual forest health conditions report and much of that report's source data is derived from annual aerial detection surveys conducted by forest health specialists, especially specific acreage delineation information. None of the data or survey information available measures 100 percent of the landscape. All available data is a sampling of the forest.

The State and Private Forestry, Forest Health Group, branch of the Forest Service flies annual aerial detection surveys over Southeast Alaska. The location of insect and disease activity is mapped and entered in a geographic information system (GIS) database. In addition to the aerial survey work, on-the-ground site visits and observations are also conducted. Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Plots (FIA) are used to develop information on extent and impact of some diseases, such as dwarf mistletoe. Biological evaluations and special research or technical assistance from Forest Health Protection entomologists and pathologists are also utilized as needed.

Feed Back Mechanism

Evaluate and change, if needed, management practices and management areas; Timber Standards and Guidelines; Invasive Species Standards and Guidelines.

Monitoring Activities and Projects

The following activities and projects are being conducted to address the monitoring plan question identified above (also see Insects and Disease Protocol):

Direct reports are provided by State and Private Forestry, Forest Health Group on an annual basis. The provided information may also be reviewed from the annual Alaska Region report: "Forest Insect and Disease Conditions in Alaska." All available data is a sampling of the landscape and in some cases, trends can be derived and insect/disease impact can be extrapolated. If a specific stand or area needs special attention, site-specific surveys are requested from the Forest Health Protection specialists and an on the ground or aerial evaluation is conducted.

FIA data is collected from a grid of plots located on managed lands of the forest. These plots are remeasured on a periodic basis. The FIA data is evaluated and utilized to model impacts or occurrence from insect and disease agents that are not detectible from ADS surveys. FIA has recently produced a range map of mistletoe in relation to the range of its host western hemlock. FIA data can also be used to access levels of decay organisms over a larger time frame.

Results

A summarization of the annual Forest Insect and Disease Conditions in Alaska report, which includes GIS mapping of insects and disease outbreaks. The location of insect and disease activity is mapped and entered in a geographic information system (GIS) database. The GIS dataset represents just a sample; this should be considered when utilizing total acres reported.

Analysis

Address implications of the Forest Insect and Disease Conditions in Alaska report concerning destructive insects and disease following management activities.

Inventory and Monitoring Data and Reports

The 2009 Tongass National Forest Monitoring and Evaluation Report summarizes the 2009 Insects and Disease Monitoring that was conducted along with the results of these programs.

Procedures and Tools

The Procedures and Tools subsection of this web site provides information on important procedures and tools used in Forest Plan implementation. These procedures and tools are provided on this web site to help ensure that they are applied in an accurate and consistent manner.