The Forest Service Forest Health Protection staff conducts aerial surveys to collect data and map the extent and severity of tree mortality. The surveys are compiled and finalized across the summer months, but prediction of the mortality earlier in the year, such as April, would be highly useful because there would be more time to assign personnel and contracting for its management.
Under the guidance of the National Fire Plan, the use of fuel treatments to reduce the likelihood of uncharacteristic fires by the Forest Service has nearly doubled since its inception in 2001.
Because of its coarse scale, satellite imagery cannot detect patterns within tree mortality, nor identify individual trees. High-resolution imagery collected via small aircraft, however, can be used toidentify imminent individual tree mortality.
Station scientists investigated perception of risk among nonindustrial private forest owners in Oregon's ponderosa pine zone regarding invasive plants. They found that 70 percent of surveyed landowners were concerned about invasive plants, and 46 percent had treated invasives on their land.
As wildfires consume increasing areas of Western U.S. forests each year, private landowners are being encouraged to reduce wildfire risk on their property. Station scientists wanted to know how nonindustrial private forest owners in eastern Oregon perceive and address wildfire risk.
