Southwestern Region

FOREST HEALTH: Insect and Disease Surveys

With the assistance of our state forestry cooperative partners, we annually survey the forested areas of Arizona and New Mexico for changes in the health of our forests. In order to survey such a large area, we conduct the surveys from aircraft which enables us to monitor forest health conditions over large areas more efficiently and economically than other methods. During the surveys we monitor the forest for areas with dying trees (from bark beetles, drought, other factors), various types of defoliation, and abiotic impacts such as from storms and weather patterns. The observer in the aircraft records the survey either by drawing the affected area on a map or using a digital sketchmapping system that incorporates a touch screen and GPS technology (Fact sheet on digital sketch mapping system, PDF, 84 kb).

The results of our surveys are distributed in the fall to land managers in the region, summarized, and used for analysis. Summary information is part of our annual Forest Insect and Disease Conditions Report (2009 Report, PDF, 1.55 mb). Forest health aerial surveys are also conducted by Forest Service and State partners throughout other parts of the country. For information on other areas please visit our National Forest Health Protection site which also has access the national level dataset through the FHP Geospatial Portal or go directly to a specific region of interest:

• National Forest Health Protection Aviation
• FHP Geospatial Portal - National Data Access

• Regions 1 & 4 - Intermountain and Northern Rockies
• Region 2 - Rocky Mountains
• Region 5 - California
• Region 6 - Pacific Northwest
• Region 8 - Southern Region
• Region 10 - Alaska
• Northeastern Area

GIS DATA

GIS (Geographic Information System) data containing the results of our New Mexico aerial surveys are available for download.

Please Note:

USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Protection (FHP) along with the Arizona State and New Mexico State Forestry Divisions strive to maintain an accurate Aerial Detection Survey (ADS) Dataset, but due to the conditions under which the data are collected, FHP and its partners shall not be held responsible for missing or inaccurate data. ADS are not intended to replace more specific information. An accuracy assessment has not been done for this dataset; however, ground checks are completed in accordance with local and national guidelines. Maps and data may be updated without notice. Please cite “USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Protection, Arizona State Forestry Division, and New Mexico State Forestry Division” as the source of this data in maps and publications.

Download the Arizona ADS GIS data

Download the New Mexico ADS GIS data

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