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Area and percent of forest affected by biotic agents beyond reference conditions

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Criterion 3, Indicator 15, of the Montréal Process identifies the impact that biotic processes and agents have on forests (Montréal Process Working Group 2007). Where change due to these agents and processes occurs beyond a critical threshold, forest ecosystem health and vitality may be significantly altered and a forest’s ability to recover could be reduced or lost. Monitoring and measuring the effects of these processes provides information helpful in the formulation of management strategies to mitigate risk. A variety of detection and monitoring surveys are conducted annually by Forest Health Protection (FHP) Program of the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and FHP partners. Aerial detection survey (ADS) data are the primary focus of this chapter, though additional ground survey data are considered and reported.

Parent Publication

Citation

Mai, Jeffrey A. 2012. Area and percent of forest affected by biotic agents beyond reference conditions. In: Potter, Kevin M.; Conkling, Barbara L., eds. 2012. Forest health monitoring: 2009 national technical report. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-167. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 37-62.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/44024