Some forest species support or rely heavily on particular forest structures, patterns, associations, and processes and can therefore be used to describe the status of genetic diversity in forests. This indicator report, tiered to the 2030 National Report on Sustainable Forests, provides information on the population status of selected forest-associated species that reflect the genetic diversity present in forest ecosystems.

Forest-associated species and infraspecies are increasingly vulnerable to genetic erosion as their geographic ranges shrink. A reduction in genetic variation makes species less adaptable to environmental change, increases the risk of extinction, and lowers the overall resilience of forest ecosystems. This indicator report, tiered to the 2030 National Report on Sustainable Forests, evaluates the number and distribution of such taxa by comparing their current ranges with historical baselines.

Tree Planters' Notes celebrates its 75th anniversary with some retrospectives from retired Forest Service nursery specialists. It also includes articles on restoring landscapes for private landowners through partnerships, how trees in the Pacific Northwest respond to different stock type sizes, creating an in-school nursery program for technical education, using social media to generate interest in planting and nurseries, and a simple strategy to protect seedlings from inclement weather.