Pest Fact Sheet 2007: Southern Pine Beetle prevention initiative: Working for healthier forests

Abstract

From 1999 to 2003, southern pine beetle (SPB) caused unprecedented damage to pine forests in southern Appalachian mountains. These losses severely impacted the natural resource base that supports the South's tourism and wood-based manufacturing industries and also destroyed the habitat of threatened and endangered species, such as the red-cockaded woodpecker. Since then, Forest Health Protection (FHP) and the Southern Research Station (SRS) received funding through SPB initiative funds to cooperatively focus more resources on SPB prevention work. FHP developed the SPB Prevention and Restoration Program and is working with 12 national forests and all 13 States in the Southern Region. The SRS Insects, Diseases, and Invasive Plants of Southern Forests Research Work Unit is working to enhance basic understanding of the insect, its population dynamics, and the best management strategies for preventing and suppressing outbreaks.

Citation

U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Forest Health Protection, R-8 and Southern Research Station 2007. Pest Fact Sheet 2007: Southern Pine Beetle prevention initiative: Working for healthier forests. Science Update SRS-013. United States Department of Agriculture, Southern Research Station. [Brochure].