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ABOUT THE SECTION
The Forest Health Section was established as the “white pine blister rust control program” in 1917. In 1965 the WPBR control program was expanded into a more general “Forest Insect and Disease Program” with as many as eight full time specialists working on pest issues throughout the state. In 1997 the forest insect and disease program was again broadened to the current title “Forest Health Section” to reflect the increased scope of forest health issues beyond just insects and diseases.
The Forest health Section is currently staffed with one forest entomologist/pathologist and one forest health specialist. Our mission is to:
- Provide and maintain forest and tree pest control programs in coordination with other state and federal agencies.
- Provide detection, identification, evaluation and assessment of forest pest problems on a statewide basis.
- Provide leadership in all forest pest problems, keeping current through systematic detection programs and close liaison with other sources of information.
- Maintain close contact with all segments of the forestry profession in forest insect and disease matters.
- Provide service for identification of forest pests cooperating in this regard with the UNH Cooperative Extension, NH Department of Agriculture, U.S Department of Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the U.S Forest Service.
- Assist and coordinate in the control of forest insects and diseases, cooperating with the U.S Forest service, Department of Agriculture, and the New Hampshire landowners and landowner associations.
Forest Health Section is a program in the Forest Protection Bureau that monitors the condition of the State's 4.8 million acres of forest. This is accomplished through regular aerial and ground surveys to look for evidence of damaging insects and diseases as well as follow-up to damaging weather events such as heavy winds, ice storms and air quality impacts. Special studies a re carried out in coordination with the USDA Forest Service, New England states, Canada, State Forest Nursery, and other New Hampshire state agencies. In recent years, studies have included white pine blister rust, butternut restoration, balsam fir and ash decline.
The Forest Health Section also implements and enforces forest health regulations to prevent the introduction or spread of exotic insects or diseases. Regulated pests in New Hampshire are hemlock woolly adelgid, pine shoot beetle and currants, the alternate host for white pine blister rust.
FOREST HEALTH NEWSLETTER 
Current Forest Health Issues
For more information about forest health or for assistance with forest insect or disease issues contact our Forest Health Specialist or call 603-464-3016.
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