Suppression 



GOAL 



Pest suppression and fire control options and fund- 

 ing continue to be available to meet resource 

 management objectives. 



RATIONALE 



Large areas of forests that are susceptible to pests and wildfire 

 will continue to require a substantial suppression effort for the 

 foreseeable future. Need for suppression of pests to protect 

 nontimber values, especially habitat for threatened and endan- 

 gered species, probably will increase. Pest suppression in western 

 ecosystems that have current or potential damage from drought, 

 certain pests, and wildfire can save surviving trees and extend the 

 time available for orderly implementation of silvicultural mea- 

 sures to restore these forests. 



Suppression of western spruce budworm on National Forest 

 System lands should decrease over the next several decades as 

 ecosystem management is emphasized and forest plans and 

 resource management decisions give more consideration to the 

 underlying ecological conditions that lead to outbreaks of native 

 pests. Suppression needs for the European gypsy moth will 

 probably increase. 



Pest suppression decisions will continue to be strongly influenced 

 by political considerations and land managers' perception of 

 public acceptance. Credibility with congressional appropriation 

 committees and the careful administration of pest suppression 

 funding require accurate long-term estimates of suppression 

 funding needs. 



ACTIONS 



The following actions should be taken to ensure the continued 

 availability of suppression options and funding: 



• Improve accuracy of long-term pest suppression need 

 projections. Assess alternatives and implement appro- 

 priate procedures for making long-term projections 

 of pest suppression needs. One alternative should be 

 similar to the method used for projecting fire control 

 needs. This activity should include State and other 

 Federal cooperators. 



Healthy Forests for America 's Future — A Strategic Plan 27 



