FOREST RESTORATION PLANNING AND ASSESSMENT FOR THE SOUTHERN PINE BEETLE AND OTHER INVASIVE PEST SPECIES

The economic, social, and ecological impacts of the southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis) (SPB) are catastrophic across the Southern US.  The geographic range of the current epidemic continues to expand and new host tree species are being infested.  The extensive damage caused by this insect exceeds all historical records.  Consequently, an issue of paramount importance is the restoration of landscapes that have been damaged by the SPB.

We are currently studying regeneration of forests after infestation by SPB and the restoration of landscape that have been damaged by the SPB. Accordingly, the goal in this project is to develop a procedure to facilitate restoration planning and evaluation in a sustainable forest management context. The specific objectives are (1) to adapt the LANDIS forest simulation model for use in SPB damage restoration planning and evaluation in the southern Appalachian Mountains and (2) to apply the LANDIS model and develop a SPB damage restoration plan that can be implemented in a sustainable forest management context.

---

                                                                                                                           Sponsored by

---

Last modified on Feb 20, 2007                                                                                                                                                               Contact for further information