Annual/Termination Reports:

[12/19/2017] [06/02/2018] [08/14/2019] [01/04/2021]

Report Information

Participants

Attendees:
Universities
Michigan State University: Katie Minnix, Monique Sakalidis (remotely)
University of Georgia: Tom Whitney
University of Maine: Savannah Haines, Kara Costanza, Shawn Fraver, William Livingston
University of Massachusetts: Tawny Simisky, Nick Brazee
University of New Hampshire: Cameron McIntire
State Forest Health Agencies
Maine Forest Service: Aaron Bergdahl, Dave Struble
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation: Ken Gooch, Felicia Andre, Nicole Keleher
New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands: Kyle Lombard, Bill Davidson
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: Tim Tidel (?)
Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation: Josh Halman
Federal Agencies:
USDA Forest Service, State & Private Forestry: Isabel Munck (Durham Field Office), James Jacobs (St. Paul Field Office, remotely)
Industry
JD Irving Woodland: Greg Adams
Experiment Stations
University of Maine: Fred Servello (Project Advisor), John Dieffenbacher-Krall

Brief Summary of Minutes

Accomplishments

<p><strong>Short-term Outcomes and Outputs:</strong>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>With just the first meeting completed, the project has not yet measured short-term outcomes or generated outputs.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><strong>Activities:</strong>&nbsp;</p><br /> <ol><br /> <li>A USDA AFRI conference grant was received by Kamal Gandhi and William Livingston. The goal of the meeting is to form a cohesive team of personnel from diverse backgrounds, fields, agencies, and regions who are directly involved in studying and managing various aspects of abiotic and biotic stressors affecting eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) resilience and integrity.&nbsp; We want to synthesize current state-of the-art knowledge about the eastern white pine health in addition to research and extension directions for prevention, protection, and amelioration of these forest health issues.&nbsp; The workshop will include multiple presentations from various regions, a field-trip to northern Georgia, and hands-on training related to current insects and pathogens on eastern white pine.&nbsp; The workshop will occur February 6-9, 2018 in Athens, Georgia.</li><br /> <li>USFS has approved funds to develop a field guide for white pine health in New England. William Livingston will develop the guide with Isabel Munck, Kyle Lombard, Jennifer Weimer, and Aaron Bergdahl as co-authors.&nbsp; The guide will focus on white pine weevil, white pine blister rust, Caliciopsis canker, white pine bast scale, and white pine needle damage.&nbsp; The goal is for the publication to help convince woodland owners to actively manage white pine to reduce the risk of health problems.</li><br /> <li>Forest Ecology and Management (FEM) has agreed to publish a special journal issue for white pine health issues. Kamal Gandhi, William Livingston, and Isabel Munck will be editors for the special issue.&nbsp; The issue should be published in 2018.</li><br /> </ol><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><strong>Milestones</strong></p><br /> <p>Through the efforts of the White Pine Workshop and the FEM special issue, the following milestones are being addressed:</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Project members will identify current strengths and weakness in knowledge and understanding.</li><br /> <li>The discussions will identify priorities for developing a research proposal that could potentially involve a project across the range of white pine.</li><br /> <li>Responsibilities will be assigned for developing specific parts of the proposal.</li><br /> </ul>

Publications

<p>As of March, 2017, there were no publications to report.&nbsp; The arrangment for a special issue on White Pine Health in Forest Ecology and Managment will ensure publications for 2018.</p>

Impact Statements

1. Roles of white pine health issues in the forest ecosystem are better understood and help to explain forest responses to land use changes and climate changes. From this understanding, effective management recommendations can be made. Probable impacts are: 1) Forest health specialists and the state and federal level are familiar with factors involved in white pine health issues. Damage and causes can be recognized and properly identified. 2) Forest managers and lumber mill operators can make realistic estimates of losses due to white pine health issues and use the information for making decisions. 3) Forest managers can take preemptive and reactive actions to minimize damage due to white pine health issues. 4) Market models include data concerning white pine health issues to provide better output for decision-making.

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Report Information

Participants

Adams, Kim (kbadams@esf.edu) ,SUNY-ESF Environmental and Forest Biology; Asaro, Chris (casaro@fs.fed.us) ,USFS Georgia; Barnes, Brittany (brittanybarnes8@gmail.com) ,University of Georgia; Costanza, Kara (Kara.Lorion@gmail.com) ,University of New Brunswick Forestry & Environmental Management; Cram, Michelle (mcram@fs.fed.us) ,USDA Forest Service Athens, GA; Gandhi, Kamal (kgandhi@warnell.uga.edu) ,Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia; Garnas, Jeff (JeffGarnas@unh.edu), University of New Hampshire; Gooch, Ken, Department of Conservation and Recreation, Massachusetts; Livingston, Bill (WilliamL@maine.edu) ,School of Forest Resources, University of Maine; Lucardi, Rima (rlucardi@fs.fed.us) ,USDA Forest Service Athens, GA; McIntire, Cameron (cameron.d.mcintire@gmail.com,) ,Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire; Mooneyham, Kaitlin (katlin.mooneyham@dof.virginia.gov) ,Virginia Department of Forestry; Munck, Isabel (imunck@fs.fed.us) ,USDA Forest Service Durham, NH; Norland, Eric (enorland@nifa.usda.gov) ,USDA NIFA; Pike, Carrie (pikec@purdue.edu) ,USFS NE State & Private Forestry; Rose, Jill (jrose@wvda.us) ,West Virginia Department of Agriculture Forest Health Protections Program Unit; Sakalidis, Monique (sakalidi@msu.edu) ,Michigan State University; Servello, Fred (fred.servello@maine.edu) ,University of Maine; Sullivan, Jim (jsullivan@gfc.state.ga.us) ,Georgia Forestry Commission; Trickel, Robert (rob.trickel@ncagr.gov) ,North Carolina Forest Service; Villari, Caterina (cvillari@uga.edu) ,University of Georgia; Whitney, Thomas (thomasdantaswhitney@gmail.com) ,Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia; Womack, Lynn (lwomack@gfc.state.ga.us) ,Georgia Forestry Commission; Yoo, Rosa (rosa.yoo@dep.nj.gov) ,New Jersey Forest Service.

Speakers providing recorded talks: Schultz, Ashley, Arkansas State University (grad student work with Kamal Gandhi); Stanosz, Glen (gstanosz@wisc.edu), University of Wisconsin

Guests from USDA Forest Service, National Forests Foresters: Best, Susan; Fraedrich, Steve; Vogt, JT

Brief Summary of Minutes

The business meeting was held on the morning of February 6, 2018, at the University of Georgia school forest in Athens, GA.  Project Advisor Fred Servello welcomed the group and emphasized the purpose of multi-state groups, and remarked that the strength of the white pine group is the focused topic and the wide representation of members from academia, state, and federal agencies.  He complimented the group on achieving a special issue in Forest Ecology and Management, and the development of a draft field manual.  The Project Chair, Dr. Bill Livingston, handed out summaries on the group’s objectives and a link to the Project’s web page for access to group documents and communications:

https://forest.umaine.edu/news-resources/sfr-outreach/eastern-white-pine-health/

The business meeting ended with the approval of officers for the next year:  Bill Livingston as chair, Kamal Gandhi as chair-elect, and Isabel Munck as secretary.   

Kamal Gandhi then introduced the objectives for the remainder of the 3-day meeting that was funded by a USDA AFRI Conference Grant for a “White Pine Health in Eastern Timberlands Work Conference”.  The first day are presentations that will synthesize the current knowledge, and second day is a field trip to view eastern white pine health problems in Georgia’s mountains, and the third day will be a roundtable discussion on gaps in knowledge, sources of funding, strategies for writing proposals, and what the next steps should be. The roundtable discussion indicated two approaches.  One focuses in individual grants focused on specific health problems (Caliciopsis/pine bast scale, white pine needle damage, white pine blister rust).  A second approach would be a region-wide effort to include state, NGO, and federal lands in an effort to address the hypothesis that management of white pine stands is the key factor determining the future health of eastern white pine.  A steering committee of four members will discuss the funding opportunities after the USDA-AFRI RFA’s are published.  The members from Massachusetts volunteered to host the 2019 meeting in June in the area near Northhampton, MA.  More details on the meeting are available in an appended document. 

Plans for the coming year: 

1. The Field Manual for Managing Eastern White Pine Health will be published.


2. Bill Livingston, Kamal Gandhi, Monique Sakalidis, Jeff Garnas, and Isabel Munck will be reviewing the USDA competitive grants program descriptions and assess the best strategies for seeking funds to support research on white pine health and management. Then, plans will be made to develop proposals.


3. Ken Gooch will make arrangements for the 2019 meeting for June in Northhampton, Massachusetts. In addition to the meeting, a field trip will be planned.

 

Accomplishments

<p><strong>Short-term Outcomes and Outputs</strong></p><br /> <p>&nbsp;Bergdahl, Aaron, Dave Struble, Ken Gooch, Kyle Lombard, Jessica Cancelliere, Paul Ricard, Isabel Munck, and Josh Halman.&nbsp;&nbsp; 2017-19.&nbsp; Monitoring eastern white pine decline and its causes in New England and New York through enhanced survey methods.&nbsp; USDA Forest Service, Evaluation and Monitoring Grant. $72,800</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;<strong>Activities</strong></p><br /> <p>Whitney, T.D., B.F. Barnes, M.M. Cram, R.D Lucardi and K.J.K. Gandhi [Oral].&nbsp; Patterns of bast scale and pathogen colonization mirror patterns of eastern white pine dieback. 58th Annual Southern Forest Insect Work Conference. July 2017. Melbourne, FL.</p><br /> <p>Whitney, T.D., Lucardi, R.D., and Gandhi, K.J.K.&nbsp; Associations between <em>Matsucoccus macrocicatrices, Caliciopsis pinea</em>, and eastern white pine dieback in the Appalachians [Poster] The XXVIII USDA Interagency Forum on Invasive Species. January 2017. Annapolis, Maryland.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>D&rsquo;Amato, Tony.&nbsp; Northeast Silviculture Institute presentation on the ecology and silviculture of Pine-Oak-Hemlock forests <a href="https://silvicultureinstitute.org/pine-oak-hemlockagenda">https://silvicultureinstitute.org/pine-oak-hemlockagenda</a>).&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Lori Chamberlin and Katlin Mooneyham, Jill Rose, Chris Asaro. &nbsp;Monitoring of eastern white pine health on permanent plots in Virginia and West Virginia.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Brazee, Nicholas.&nbsp; Annual meeting of the Massachusetts Tree Wardens&rsquo; and Foresters&rsquo; Association, Sturbridge, MA (1/11/17)&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Brazee, Nicholas.&nbsp; SiteOne Landscapes 2017 Northern Recertification Seminar, Taunton, MA (2/15/17)&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Brazee, Nicholas.&nbsp; University of Massachusetts Community Tree Conference, Amherst, MA (3/7/17)&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Brazee, Nicholas.&nbsp; Western Mass. Tree Wardens Summer Meeting, Northampton, MA (6/20/17)&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Brazee, Nicholas.&nbsp; UMass Extension Landscape and Forest Tree and Shrub Disease Workshop, Amherst, MA (9/21/17)&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>McIntire, Cameron.&nbsp; A research update on white pine needle damage, Disease section of the 8th issue of the 2017 UMass Extension Landscape Message (<a href="http://ag.umass.edu/landscape/landscape-message-may-12-2017">http://ag.umass.edu/landscape/landscape-message-may-12-2017</a>)&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Munck, I. A. Soil and stocking effects on Caliciopsis canker of Pinus strobus L. Northeast Pest Council &amp; NE Society of American Foresters Annual Winter Meeting. March 8-10, 2017, Orono, Maine.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Bergdahl, Aaron, and I.A. Munck. U.S. Eastern white pine needle damage update and survey planning meeting. U.S. Forest Service-Northeastern Area-Forest Health Protection-Durham Field Office (USFS-NA-FHP-DFO) State Cooperators&rsquo; Annual Meeting, October 24-25, 2017, Providence, RI.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Munck, Isabel.&nbsp; Extent and severity of Caliciopsis canker in New England, with a focus on soil and stocking. White Pine Health in Eastern Timberlands Workshop, February 6-9, 2018, Athens, GA&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Costanza, Kara.&nbsp; Impact of Caliciopsis canker on eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L. ) trees in northeastern US. White Pine Health in Eastern Timberlands Workshop, February 6-9, 2018, Athens, GA&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Cram, Michelle.&nbsp; Pathogenicity of fungi isolated from cankers found on eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) saplings across the southeastern US. White Pine Health in Eastern Timberlands Workshop, February 6-9, 2018, Athens, GA&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Sakalidis, Monique.&nbsp; Genetics of Caliciopsis species affecting Pinus spp; what we know and what we need to find out. White Pine Health in Eastern Timberlands Workshop, February 6-9, 2018, Athens, GA&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Pike, Carrie.&nbsp; Improving the resistance of eastern white pine to white pine blister rust disease. White Pine Health in Eastern Timberlands Workshop, February 6-9, 2018, Athens, GA</p><br /> <p>McIntire, Cameron.&nbsp; Impacts and management of white pine needle damage in the northeastern US. White Pine Health in Eastern Timberlands Workshop, February 6-9, 2018, Athens, GA&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Livingston, Bill.&nbsp; Using tree rings as a measure of predisposing and inciting stresses affecting tree health: A case study on how a drought affected eastern white pine. White Pine Health in Eastern Timberlands Workshop, February 6-9, 2018, Athens, GA</p><br /> <p>Asaro, Chris.&nbsp; White pine dieback in the southern Appalachians. White Pine Health in Eastern Timberlands Workshop, February 6-9, 2018, Athens, GA&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Schulz, Ashley.&nbsp; What&rsquo;s been &ldquo;bugging&rdquo; the white pine? A quest to inspect the abiotic and biotic factors associated with Pinus strobus dieback in the southern Appalachian Mountains. White Pine Health in Eastern Timberlands Workshop, February 6-9, 2018, Athens, GA&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Whitney, Thomas.&nbsp; First glimpse into the continental. White Pine Health in Eastern Timberlands Workshop, February 6-9, 2018, Athens, GA&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Cram, Michelle.&nbsp; Heterobasidion root disease occurrence in eastern white pine. White Pine Health in Eastern Timberlands Workshop, February 6-9, 2018, Athens, GA&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Stanosz, Glen.&nbsp; The increasing threat of Heterobasidion root disease to eastern white pine. White Pine Health in Eastern Timberlands Workshop, February 6-9, 2018, Athens, GA&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Lucardi, Rima.&nbsp; Biogeographical implications and anthropogenic impacts in the post. White Pine Health in Eastern Timberlands Workshop, February 6-9, 2018, Athens, GA&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Livingston, Bill.&nbsp; Using eastern white pine silviculture to reduce the risk of health issue. White Pine Health in Eastern Timberlands Workshop, February 6-9, 2018, Athens, GA&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><strong>Milestones:</strong></p><br /> <p><em>Milestone 1 Accomplishments:&nbsp; Development of a research proposal by project members will occur over a multi-year time frame.&nbsp;</em>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Organized and completed a special edition on Eastern White Pine Health in Forest Ecology and Management.&nbsp; Eleven articles will be published.&nbsp; This provides the scholarly basis for future research on eastern white pine health.</p><br /> <p>Received USDA AFRI conference funding of $25,000 for &ldquo;White Pine Health in Eastern Timberlands Work Conference&rdquo; that is supporting this year&rsquo;s meeting.&nbsp; This has initiated discussion on priorities and discussions for research proposals.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><em>Milestone 2 Accomplishments:&nbsp; A white pine health management publication will be developed.</em></p><br /> <p>A draft has been developed for a field manual on eastern white pine health for New England.&nbsp; Although developed based on New England needs, the publication will be relevant to needs throughout the range of eastern white pine.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p>

Publications

<p>12 manuscripts will be published in the May 2018 special issue of Forest Ecology and Management on Eastern White Pine Health.</p>

Impact Statements

1. Forest managers can take preemptive and reactive actions to minimize damage due to white pine health issues. A field manual is being developed for use by forest managers and should be available later in 2018.

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Report Information

Participants

Eric Norland USDA NIFA
Brittany Barnes University of Georgia
Aaron Bergdahl Maine Forest Service
Mark Hutton University of Maine
Bill Livingston School of Forest Resources, University of Maine
Nick Brazee UMass Cooperative Extension
Monique Sakalidis Dept. Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University
Heidi Asbjornsen Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire
Jeff Garnas University of New Hampshire
Kyle Lombard New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands, Forest Health Section
Isabel Munck USDA Forest Service Durham, NH
Kim Adams SUNY-ESF Environmental and Forest Biology
Jessica Cancelliere Bureau of Invasive Species & Ecosystem Health, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Robert Cole New York State DEC
Mark Faulkenberry Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
Sarah Johnson Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
Tim Tomon Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
Josh Halman Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation
Jill Rose West Virginia Department of Agriculture Forest Health Protections Program Unit
Kristen Carrington West Virginia Department of Agriculture Forest Health Protections Program Unit

Brief Summary of Minutes

After approval of 2018 minutes and election of officers, the primary goal for 2019 was discussed, a proposal for the USDA AFRI Sustainable Agricultural Systems program.  Livingston went through program components, and Eric Norland emphasized important considerations for a successful proposal.  The attendees were divided into two groups to work on setting priorities for research on eastern white pine health and on outreach.  Reports from the two groups are found in the attached document.  Also in the attached document are sampling protocals for fungal pathogens and pine bast scale.  Text for the AFRI SAS Letter of Intent is also included. 

Accomplishments

<p><strong>Short-term Outcomes </strong></p><br /> <p>Forest managers have become involved in the planning of future white pine research.&nbsp; Managers for ten forests in 8 states (Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Virginia, and North Carolina) have agreed to learn more about eastern white pine health and consider options for improving eastern white pine health in their forests.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;<strong>Outputs</strong></p><br /> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong>A field manual was completed in June and will be printed by the end of August for distribution.&nbsp; A pdf version is available at:&nbsp; <a href="https://umaine.edu/mafes/publications/miscellaneous-publications/">https://umaine.edu/mafes/publications/miscellaneous-publications/</a></p><br /> <p>&nbsp;Standardized procedures have been developed for fungal pathogens of eastern white pine and the pine bast &nbsp;scale.&nbsp; Copies are in the appended materials.</p><br /> <p><strong>&nbsp;</strong>Vermont Eastern White Pine Monitoring Leaflet:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><a href="https://fpr.vermont.gov/sites/fpr/files/Forest_and_Forestry/Forest_Health/Library/2018_VT%20FPR_White%20pine%20health%20monitoring%20leaflet.pdf">https://fpr.vermont.gov/sites/fpr/files/Forest_and_Forestry/Forest_Health/Library/2018_VT%20FPR_White%20pine%20health%20monitoring%20leaflet.pdf</a></p><br /> <p>&nbsp;<strong>&nbsp;</strong>Nick Brazee wrote an article for Cornell's Branching Out Newsletter and an online fact sheet on eastern white pine health. He'll continue to update the fact sheet online with more references and information as more is learned.</p><br /> <p><a href="http://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/dieback-of-eastern-white-pine">http://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/dieback-of-eastern-white-pine</a></p><br /> <p><strong>Activities:</strong> Organized and specific functions or duties carried out by individuals or teams using scientific methods to reveal new knowledge and develop new understanding.</p><br /> <p>In Vermont (Josh Halman), white pine needles were affected once again this year by a complex of fungal species including Brown Spot Needle Blight (Lecanosticta acicola), and two needlecast fungi (Lophophacidium dooksii and Bifusella linearis). During aerial surveys, 40,745 acres were mapped, which is an increase from the 16,413 acres mapped in 2017. This likely underestimates the area affected since damage is mapped from above the trees, while much of the damage is observed within, and in lower portions of tree crowns when viewed from the ground. <a href="https://fpr.vermont.gov/sites/fpr/files/Forest_and_Forestry/Forest_Health/Library/2018%20Conditions%20report.pdf">https://fpr.vermont.gov/sites/fpr/files/Forest_and_Forestry/Forest_Health/Library/2018%20Conditions%20report.pdf</a></p><br /> <p>In New York (Robert Cole and Jessica Cancelliere), five meetings were held across the state with NYSDEC foresters to go over WPND, white pine decline, and sites for demonstration/research forests to undertake management recommendations from the eastern white pine manual.&nbsp; An Urban and Community Forestry meeting attended by municipal land managers and private arborists included a presentation on WPND. One article was published in the NYSDEC&rsquo;s Conservationist magazine regarding WPND and white pine decline in NY.&nbsp; Two field tours were organized in communities to look at WPND and other concerns with the white pine followed by a meeting to provide management recommendations. 30 WPND monitoring plots established in 2018 revisited in 2019.&nbsp; Responded to ca. 50 public emails in May/June regarding reports or questions of white pine decline.</p><br /> <p>In New Hampshire, a total of 24 sites were surveyed to better understand the pine pathogens and their associated effects on the health of white pine. Five different pathogens were detected in NH that cause foliage diseases. The most abundant, Lecanosticta acicola (formerly Mycosphaerella dearnessii) which causes brown spot needle blight, was present at 11 sites. Septorioides strobi, a new species recently detected in the U.S., was present at 8 sites, Lophodermium and Lophophacidium dooksii (formerly Canavirgella banfieldii) was present at 2 sites, and Bifusella linearis was detected at just 1 site. In 2018, the first pesticide treatments to control the pine bast scale, and the subsequent effect on the Caliciopsis population within the treated tree will be monitored.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>William Livingston was an invited speaker at the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry Winter Meeting in January 2019 to present a featured presentation on white pine decline.&nbsp; During March, he also spoke about white pine health at the Northeast Forest Pest Council Meeting in West Chester, PA, and at the New England Society of American Foresters winter meeting in Burlington, VT.&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>The project on &lsquo;Monitoring eastern white pine decline and its causes in New England and New York through enhanced survey methods&rsquo;, funded by the US Forest Service, was completed in 2018. It is hoped that the data from this survey will shed light on the current state of white pine trees in the region with particular respect to the occurrence and severity of WPNDs. In Maine, Continued monitoring of this situation will be prioritized for early detection of any emerging insect or disease agents that could serve as further factors leading to white pine decline and mortality.</p><br /> <p>Isabel Munck (i) obtained permission to assess condition of white pine regeneration across different silvicultural treatments at the Massabesic Experimental Forest, (ii) organized and cleaned up data from multi-state EM (more than 60 white pine stands sampled), and (iii) coordinated monitoring of crown condition in 8 permanent plots in New England.&nbsp; She gave talks on white pine health at the Forest Pathology Field Trip: New England, American Phytopathological Society (APS) Annual Meeting, July, 28, Boston, MA; Northeast Silviculture Institute for Foresters-2018 Pine-Oak-Hemlock Session, May 16-17, Portsmouth. NH;&nbsp;White pine foliar diseases, gypsy moth, and oak wilt, Avangrid Utility Arborist Meeting, May 15, New Haven, CT; and&nbsp;Forest Health in New Hampshire, New Hampshire Arborist Association Spring Meeting. March 19, Concord, NH.</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Milestones:</strong></p><br /> <p><em>Milestone 1 Accomplishments:&nbsp; Development of a research proposal by project members will occur over a multi-year time frame.&nbsp; </em></p><br /> <p>&nbsp;A Letter of Intent outlining a multistate project was submitted June 3, 2019.&nbsp; A copy is provided in the Summary of Minutes attachment.</p><br /> <p><em>Milestone 2 Accomplishments:&nbsp; A white pine health management publication will be developed.</em></p><br /> <p>The field guide was completed in June 2019.</p><br /> <p>Livingston, W.H., I. Munck, K. Lombard, J. Weimer, A. Bergdahl, L.S. Kenefic, B. Schultz, and R.S. Seymour. 2019. Field Manual for Managing Eastern White Pine Health in New England. University of Maine, Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station, Orono, ME. Miscellaneous Publication 764. 20 p.</p><br /> <p>Available for download at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_miscpubs/</p><br /> <p>For published copies, contact: William H. Livingston, williaml@maine.edu</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p>

Publications

<p>Asaro, Christopher, Lori A. Chamberlin, Jill A. Rose, Katlin Mooneyham, Anita K. Rose.&nbsp; 2018.&nbsp; Mortality of eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) in association with a novel scale insect-pathogen complex in Virginia and West Virginia.&nbsp; Forest Ecology and Management 423:37-48.</p><br /> <p>Costanza, Kara K.L., Mindy S. Crandall, Robert W. Rice, William H. Livingston, Isabel A. Munck, and Kyle Lombard.&nbsp; Economic implications of a native tree disease, Caliciopsis canker, on the white pine (<em>Pinus strobus</em>) lumber industry in the northeastern United States.&nbsp; Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 2019, 49(5): 521-530.</p><br /> <p>Costanza, Kara K.L., Thomas D. Whitney, Cameron D. McIntire, William H. Livingston, and Kamal J.K. Gandhi.&nbsp; 2018.&nbsp; A synthesis of emerging health issues of eastern white pine (<em>Pinus</em> <em>strobus</em>) in eastern North America. Forest Ecology and Management 423:3-17.</p><br /> <p>Gandhi, Kamal J.K., William H. Livingston, and Isabel A. Munck. Resilience and health of eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) forests under novel and historical factors in eastern North America (editorial).&nbsp; 2018. Forest Ecology and Management 423:1-2.</p><br /> <p>Haines, Savannah L., Kara K.L. Costanza, and William H. Livingston. 2018. Compartmentalization process in eastern white pine (<em>Pinus strobus</em> L.) documented using a native fungal pathogen.&nbsp; Forest Ecology and Management 423:94-105.</p><br /> <p>Livingston, William H. and Laura S. Kenefic.&nbsp; 2018.&nbsp; Low densities in white pine stands reduce risk of drought-incited decline.&nbsp; Forest Ecology and Management 423:84-93.</p><br /> <p>McIntire, Cameron D., Isabel A. Munck, Mark J. Ducey, and Heidi Asbjornsen.&nbsp; 2018.&nbsp; Thinning treatments reduce severity of foliar pathogens in eastern white pine.&nbsp; Forest Ecology and Management 423:106-113.</p><br /> <p>McIntire, Cameron D., Isabel A. Munck, Matthew A. Vadeboncoeur, William H. Livingston, and Heidi Asbjornsen.&nbsp; 2018. &nbsp;Impacts of White Pine Needle Damage on seasonal litterfall dynamics and wood growth of eastern white pine (<em>Pinus strobus</em>) in northern New England. Forest Ecology and Management 423:27-36.</p><br /> <p>Pike, Carolyn C., Paul Berrang, Scott Rogers, Andy David, Carrie Sweeney, Julie Hendrickson. 2018.&nbsp; Improving the resistance of eastern white pine to white pine blister rust disease.&nbsp; Forest Ecology and Management 423:114-119.</p><br /> <p>Schulz, Ashley N., Angela M. Mech, Michelle M. Cram, Christopher Asaro, David R. Coylea, Rima D. Lucardi, Sunny Lucas, Kamal J.K. Gandhi. 2018.&nbsp; Association of Caliciopsis pinea Peck and Matsucoccus macrocicatrices Richards with eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) seedling dieback.&nbsp; Forest Ecology and Management 423:70-83.</p><br /> <p>Schulz, Ashley N., Angela M. Mech, Christopher Asaro, David R. Coylea, Michelle M. Cram, Rima D. Lucardi, Kamal J.K. Gandhi.&nbsp; 2018.&nbsp; Assessment of abiotic and biotic factors associated with eastern white pine (<em>Pinus strobus</em> L.) dieback in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.&nbsp; Forest Ecology and Management 423:59-69.</p><br /> <p>Whitney, Thomas D., Michelle M. Cram, Brittany F. Barnes, Jiangming Yao, Rima D. Lucardi, Kamal J.K. Gandhi.&nbsp; 2018.&nbsp; Tree-level distribution of a novel insect-pathogen complex and its potential contribution to eastern white pine dieback.&nbsp; Forest Ecology and Management 423:49-58.</p><br /> <p>Wyka, Stephen A., Isabel A. Munck, Nicholas J. Brazee, Kirk D. Broders.&nbsp; 2018.&nbsp; Response of eastern white pine and associated foliar, blister rust, canker and root rot pathogens to climate change.&nbsp; Forest Ecology and Management 423:18-26.</p>

Impact Statements

1. Market models include data concerning white pine health issues to provide better output for decision-making. The letter of Intent describes initial ideas on how to address this outcome.

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Report Information

Participants

Aaron Bergdahl Maine Forest Service
Alicyn Smart Umaine Cooperative Extension, Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory
Amber Roth School of Forest Resources, University of Maine
Angela Mech School of Biology & Ecology, University of Maine
Bill Livingston School of Forest Resources, University of Maine
Brad Hutnik Wisconsin DNR
Brittany Barnes University of Georgia
Bruce Breitmeyer SUNY-ESF
C. Jonathan Jamelle USDA Forest Service, Durham, NH
Cameron Mcintire USDA Forest Service Durham, NH
Don Eggen Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
Erin Simons-Legaard University of Maine
Glen Stanoxz University of Wisconsin
Greg Edge Wisconsin DNR
Heidi Asbjornsen Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire
Isabel Munck USDA Forest Service Durham, NH
James Jacobs USDA Forest Service, St. Paul, MN
Jay Wason University of Maine
Jeff Garnas University of New Hampshire
Jen Weimer New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands, Forest Health Section
Jill Rose Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
John Daigle University of Maine
Julia Burton SUNY-ESF
Kamal Gandhi Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia
Lacey Hankin NRES Department, University of Nevada - Reno
Laura Kenefic Northern Station, USFS
Luben Dimov Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont
Mark Faulkenberry Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
Michelle Cram USDA Forest Service Athens, GA
Mike Federice SUNY ESF
Monique Sakalidis Dept. Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University
Nick Brazee UMass Cooperative Extension
Parinaz Rahimzadeh-Bajgiran University of Maine
René Germain Dept. Forest and Nat. Res. Mgt, SUNY-ESF
Robert Cole New York State DEC
Sarah Johnson Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry
Savannah Ferreira Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation
Shane O'Neill University of Maine
Steve Eisenhaure UNH Office of Woodlands and Natural Areas
Steve Voelker SUNY-ESF
Steven Roberge UNH Cooperative Extension
Tom Doak Maine Woodland Owners Association
Zach Olinger Virginia Department of Forestry, Matthews State Forest

Brief Summary of Minutes

Bill Livingston welcomed the group to the virtual meeting.  People in attendance who haven’t yet registered as a NE 1601 member were encouraged to go to http://www.nimss.org/, and click “New User?” in the upper, right corner. 

NE 1601 Multi-state Research Project is a USDA program for Land Grant Experiment Stations to facilitate multi-state collaborations.  NE 1601 started in 2016 and has had meetings in Maine, Georgia, and Massachusetts. An informal “Eastern White Pine Alliance” was formed in 2019 to submit a Letter of Intent to the USDA SAS program.

EWPA/NE1601 “Mission Statement”:  To improve the resilience, value, and services from eastern white pine (EWP) forests.

The Mailing List of members and collaborators includes 80 names from 18 states.  People work at 10 universities, 7 USDA Forest Service offices, and 12 state agencies. 

Minutes from 2019 were approved.

Election of officers:

Chair:  Bill Livingston

Chair-elect:  Kamal Gandhi

Secretary:  Isabel Munck

 EWPA/NE 1601 Activities since June 2019.

1. 2019 Letter of Intent for USDA Sustainable Agricultural Systems program


2. 2020 (April) Proposal to USDA AFRI Sustainable Agroecosystems program


3. 2020 Proposal to USDA RREA funds (Cooperative Extension grant)


4. 2020 Proposal to USDA Forest Service Landscape Scale Restoration Funds

Today’s Goals:  Consider collaborating on future proposals, specifically with writing a Letter of Intent for USDA Sustainable Agricultural Systems proposal (5 yr, $10 million). Speakers presented information on:

• Pathogenic Fungi: Cameron McIntyre (USFS Durham NH), Isabel Munck (USFS Durham NH), Jeff Garnas (Univ. NH), Monique Sakalidis (Michigan State Univ.)


• Pine Bast Scale: Kamal Gandhi  -  Georgia


• Ecosystem Services: Birds and Xylophytic Insects – Amber Roth and Angela Mech (Univ. Maine); Plants – Julia Burton (SUNY-ESF)


• Tree Physiology: Heidi Asbjornsen (Univ NH)


• Remote Sensing: Parinaz Rahimzadeh (Univ. Maine)

Accomplishments

<p>Short-term Outcomes:</p><br /> <p>The focus has been on getting state agencies to support the effort to improve eastern white pine managment.&nbsp; The following state foresters supported the Lanscape Scale Restoration fund request which would have their states begin demonstrations on how to improve eastern white pine management:&nbsp; Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Outputs.&nbsp;&nbsp;Primary outputs were research proposals (next section) and publications (see below).</p><br /> <p>Activities:&nbsp; In February 2020, Livingston and Munck visited Jessica Canelliere and Robert Cole in New York State to review eastern white pine health and promote participation in NE 1601.&nbsp; The two-day visit involved observations on 4 different stands and a committment to continue eastern white pine work by the NY Department of Environmental Conservation.&nbsp; COVID-19 restrictions prevented other meetings and planned activities.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><br /> <p><em>Milestone Accomplishments:&nbsp; Development of a research proposal by project members will occur over a multi-year time frame.&nbsp; </em></p><br /> <p><strong>2019 Letter of Intent to Submit an Application, AFRI Sustainable Agricultural Systems Program</strong></p><br /> <p><strong>Project Director:&nbsp; </strong>William H. Livingston.&nbsp; 23 Collaborating Investigators and 10 Cooperators.</p><br /> <p><strong>Overall hypothesis or goal: </strong>Effective management of the EWP forest type as a larger sustainable agricultural system will increase value and utilization as changes occur in the environment, and targeted outreach/education will increase social acceptance of these management practices. &nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Submission of full proposal not recommended</p><br /> <p><strong>2020 (April) Proposal to USDA AFRI Sustainable Agroecosystems program</strong></p><br /> <p>Co-Pi&rsquo;s: William Livingston, Aaron Weiskittel, Amber Roth, Jay Wason, Angela Mech, Julia Burton Collaborators:&nbsp; Heidi Asbjornsen, Isabella Munck, Keith Kanoti, Tom Doak, Jessica Cancelliere, Malcolm Itter, Kyle Lombard</p><br /> <p>Long Term Goal: Develop management practices for mitigating emerging health threats to EWP while enhancing ecosystem services</p><br /> <p>Supporting Objectives:</p><br /> <p>Use precommercial thinning treatments to increase the resilience of EWP to stresses associated with climate change.</p><br /> <p>Increase stem flow and photosynthesis in EWP by reducing competition for water and by increasing sunlight resulting from PCT.</p><br /> <p>Use silviculture management to improve Ecosystem Services</p><br /> <p>Demonstrate consistent responses across a range of site conditions and locations in EWP&rsquo;s range in the northeastern U.S.</p><br /> <p>Not funded, received Medium Priority rating.</p><br /> <p><strong>2020 Proposal to USDA Renewable Resources Extension Act Funds</strong></p><br /> <p>Co-Pi&rsquo;s Steve Roberge, Bill Livingston, Nick Brazee</p><br /> <p>The proposal will engage landowners and natural resource professionals to address concerns on forest health and local economies.</p><br /> <p>Long Term Goal:&nbsp; Public utilizes management practices for mitigating emerging health threats to EWP while enhancing productivity.</p><br /> <p>Proposed activities:</p><br /> <ul><br /> <li>Eastern White Pine Management Institute for New England</li><br /> <li>Symposium on &ldquo;Developing Priorities for Eastern White Pine Health and Management&rdquo;</li><br /> <li>Field Manual for Management of EWP</li><br /> <li>Fact Sheets</li><br /> <li>Field Workshops</li><br /> <li>Webinars</li><br /> <li>Videos</li><br /> </ul><br /> <p>Funded, starting January 2021</p><br /> <p><strong>2020 Proposal to USDA Forest Service Landscape Scale Restoration Funds</strong></p><br /> <p>State agencies and universities in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia</p><br /> <p>Endorsed by State Foresters in each state</p><br /> <p>Would establish a network of 1 to 2 demonstration forests in each state that utilize best practices in forest management</p><br /> <p>Expand effort of White Pine Management Institute to more states</p><br /> <p>Engage foresters and forest owners to utilize management for improving EWP sustainability across the landscape</p><br /> <p>Ranked # 15 of 48 by the Eastern Region.&nbsp; Funding decision by March 2021</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p>

Publications

<ol><br /> <li>Long-term structural and biomass dynamics of virgin Tsuga canadensis&mdash;Pinus strobus forests after hurricane disturbance by Anthony W. D'Amato; David A. Orwig; David R. Foster; Audrey Barker Plotkin; Peter K. Schoonmaker; Maggie R. Wagner. Ecology (Durham), 03/2017, Volume 98, Issue 3</li><br /> <li>Dendrochronological Analyses and Whole-Tree Dissections Reveal Caliciopsis Canker (Caliciopsis pinea) Damage Associated with the Declining Growth and Climatic Stressors of Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) by Costanza, Kara K.L; Livingston, William H; Fraver, Shawn; Munck, Isabel A. Forests, 03/2020, Volume 11, Issue 3</li><br /> <li>Assessing the ecological impacts of biomass harvesting along a disturbance severity gradient by Kurth, Valerie J; D'Amato, Anthony W; Bradford, John B; Palik, Brian J; Looney, Christopher E. Ecological applications, 12/2019, Volume 30, Issue 2</li><br /> </ol>

Impact Statements

1. A proposal to the USDA Renewable Resources Extension Act Funds was funded for $100,000. Co-Pi’s Steve Roberge, Bill Livingston, Nick Brazee. The proposal will engage landowners and natural resource professionals to address concerns on forest health and local economies.

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