Managing Insects and Diseases of Oregon Conifers

This publication was developed as part of a larger forest health educational initiative described below.

Pests, such as insects, diseases and animals are among the most challenging issues facing family forestland ownerships in many parts of the U.S. In Oregon, landowner surveys typically show that forest owners and managers rate pests and forest health concerns as one of their highest priorities..

Forest pest and fire losses in Oregon are enormous, especially in eastern Oregon where an estimated 86 MMBF (over 17,000 truck loads) of sawtimber (43% of growth) is lost annually on family forestland and 73% of these forests have trees with dwarf mistletoe, bark beetles, defoliators or root disease. Western Oregon forests are not exempt, these same pest groups affect 8-30% of forestland acres in the western Cascades and 3-17% in the Klamath Mountains.

To improve woodland owner knowledge of forest insects and diseases we developed the following forest health program.

· Publish “Managing Insects and Diseases of Oregon Conifers”

· Design and deliver one day, hands on Pest Scene Investigator (PSI) trainings

· Evaluate the long-term impacts of this educational program through a mail survey

A grant of $34,000 from the Oregon Forest Resources Institute provided startup funding. The target audience was Master Woodland Manager Volunteers. The PSI education, that included the publication, was perceived as a way to provide peer to peer teaching of insect and disease information from MWM to their neighbors. Those receiving PSI training would have enough additional training to work with their local extension forester in assisting their neighbors identify pest issues and offer management advice. The overall goal is to improve forest health on family forestland properties so owners could meet their management objectives. The publication is also very popular with woodland owners in general, professional natural resource managers and loggers.

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Managing Insects and Diseases of Oregon Conifers

Abbreviated version PDF of this publication