SAES-422 Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report
Sections
Status: Approved
Basic Information
- Project No. and Title: NE1601 : Eastern White Pine Health and Responses to Environmental Changes
- Period Covered: 10/01/2016 to 09/30/2017
- Date of Report: 12/19/2017
- Annual Meeting Dates: 03/09/2017 to 03/10/2017
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
Accomplishments
Short-term Outcomes and Outputs:
With just the first meeting completed, the project has not yet measured short-term outcomes or generated outputs.
Activities:
- 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. 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. 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. The workshop will occur February 6-9, 2018 in Athens, Georgia.
- 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. The guide will focus on white pine weevil, white pine blister rust, Caliciopsis canker, white pine bast scale, and white pine needle damage. The goal is for the publication to help convince woodland owners to actively manage white pine to reduce the risk of health problems.
- 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. The issue should be published in 2018.
Milestones
Through the efforts of the White Pine Workshop and the FEM special issue, the following milestones are being addressed:
- Project members will identify current strengths and weakness in knowledge and understanding.
- The discussions will identify priorities for developing a research proposal that could potentially involve a project across the range of white pine.
- Responsibilities will be assigned for developing specific parts of the proposal.
Impacts
- 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.
Publications
As of March, 2017, there were no publications to report. The arrangment for a special issue on White Pine Health in Forest Ecology and Managment will ensure publications for 2018.