Forest Health Highlights 1997
Texas
The Texas Forest Service provides forest health protection assistance to state and private land managers within the State. This program is funded cooperatively by the State and the USDA Forest Service Forest Health Protection unit.
Texas Forest Facts
Over
50% of the eastern section of Texas is forested (more than
11.7 million acres).
Almost
90% of the forested acreage in Texas is privately owned.
The
National Forests in Texas (576,800 acres) provide recreational
and wildlife benefits as well as forest products and jobs for thousands
of people.
The
southern pine beetle (SPB) is Texas' most important forest insect
pest. Historically this state has had the most severe SPB problems in
the South. However, since 1994, SPB populations have been very low. In
l997 there were about 800 infestations statewide, an increase from 1996.
A trapping system has been developed by the Texas Forest Service and implemented
in 12 southern states to annually forecast SPB infestation trends. Suppression
projects continue both with the state and on national forests.
The
Texas Forest Service and Forest Health Protection are evaluating new
SPB control techniques for use in areas where salvage
logging is restricted or not permitted.
Personnel
from the Texas Forest Service, National Forests in Texas, and Forest Health
Protection staffs have worked together to develop some unique remote sensing
applications to assist in the detection and monitoring of forest pest
problems. One of the applications involves the use of aerial videography
to acquire images of project areas that can readily be viewed and analyzed.
Oak
wilt is currently affecting the live oak in 55 counties in central
Texas and 6 counties in west Texas. Although this resource has little
commercial product use, values for shade, wildlife and livestock, scenic
beauty, etc. are extremely high, particularly in urban areas like Austin.
A cooperatively-funded suppression project will be in its 11th
year during 1998, although at reduced funding levels. Using matching project
funds, 1.96 million feet of trenches have been installed to suppress 1,200
oak wilt infection centers. Also, over 7,000 high-value trees have been
treated with fungicide and more than 2,200 red oak trees have been removed
to prevent spread of the disease by known insect vectors.
The Texas Forest Service
and USDA Forest Service
In spite of the relatively good health of Texas' forests, a variety of insects and diseases and human-caused impacts such as air pollution, continue to threaten the State's resources. To deal with this constantly changing mix of challenges, the Texas Forest Service and the Forest Health Protection unit of the USDA Forest Service cooperate to prevent, detect, suppress, and manage this multitude of threats. The partnership between the two agencies has worked for three decades to maintain and improve the health of forests in Texas.
Forest Health Protection contributions (dollars) to the Texas Forest Service Cooperative Forest Health Program, cooperative pest suppression projects, and National Forests in Texas pest suppression projects, 1995-98.