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Aerial Detection Monitoring

Insects and diseases are integral components of forest ecosystems. They play a critical role in shaping forest lands, nutrient recycling, and dynamic disturbance. Disturbances result in changes in the ecosystem function which often means mortality or damage of trees. Tree mortality and other forest damage is detected by annual aerial surveys over forested lands of all ownerships. The primary purpose of the aerial survey is to create and make freely available GIS sketch maps of areas containing recent or current year conifer and hardwood mortality, defoliation, and other damage. Number of trees and acres with damage are estimations and calculated for surveyed areas and reported annually using the methodology described below:

Aerial Survey Results

Contact Us

Aerial Survey Program Manager

Jeffrey Moore

Voice: 530-759-1753

Email: jeffrey.moore@usda.gov

Aerial Survey/GIS Specialist

Nick Stevens

Voice: 530-760-7633

Email: Nicholas.stevens2@usda.gov

Last updated April 9th, 2025