The Invasive Species Information Program (ISI) provides information to support the detection, prevention, and suppression of invasive forest insects and diseases. Products provided through ISI include fact sheets and risk ratings on invasive forest pests, which can be found on the Exotic Forest Health Website (ExFor); susceptibility, hazard and spread maps; and sampling design tools. The products were developed by the USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team (FHTET), in collaboration with the USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Monitoring Program (FHM) and Early Detection and Rapid Response Program (EDRR), and the Center for Integrated Pest Management Program, USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine (APHIS-PPQ).

Invasive Species Risk Maps

Related Products

Exotic Forest Health Website (ExFor)

Marla C. Downing

USDA Forest Service - FHTET
2150 Centre Ave., Bldg. A, Suite 331
Fort Collins, CO 80526-1891
Phone: (970) 295-5843
Fax: (970) 295-5815
Email: mdowning@fs.fed.us

Background

Marla Downing received a Master’s degree in Landscape Ecology from the University of Kansas, with an emphasis in Remote Sensing and GIS. She has attained additional education from the University of Colorado in Spatial Statistics and Modeling. Working as a Biological Scientist for both the USDA FS and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Marla has produced a variety of ecological and environmental assessments. She has recently led the development of susceptibility, hazard, and spread maps for: 1) Sirex noctilio, 2) Ips typographus, and 3) Phytophthora alni ssp alni. Other assessments she has developed include, 1) the potential distribution of oak wilt in Anoka County, MN and Fort Hood TX, 2) a Synoptic Assessment of Wetland Function: A Planning Tool for Protection of Wetland Species Biodiversity, 3) EPA Region 7's Strategic Environmental Assessment, 4) Platte River Ecological Risk Assessment, 5) A GIS Watershed Assessment and Analysis for Prioritizing EPAR7 Watersheds, 6) Spatial Analysis of Farming Patterns on Biodiversity in Western Kansas, and 7) Identification of Habitat Condition in the Short-grass Prairie Ecosystem in Western Kansas using Remote Sensing and GIS.