controls, and use of resistant varieties of trees. Develop 

 and implement appropriate plans and projects to 

 increase research, development, and application of 

 biologically based pest management strategies. 

 Cooperation with other countries and other USDA 

 agencies, and participation in the USDA hiteragency 

 Biological Control Initiative will be explored. 



• Develop technology to ei'aluate the impacts of vegetation 

 management practices and pests on forest health and 

 resource values. Explore opportunities to increase 

 research to develop procedures for evaluating the im- 

 pacts of management practices and pests on forest 

 health and resource management objectives. 

 Research \vill include the impacts of uneven-aged 

 stands on forest management and the evaluation of 

 impacts on nontimber resources. An interdiscipli- 

 naiy approach will be used. 



• Ina-ease knowledge of the role of forest insect pests, other- 

 arthropods, and tniaoorganisms in ecosystems in relation 

 to forest health. Expand research programs to include 

 the ecological role of forest insect pests, other arthro- 

 pods, and microorganisms and their beneficial influ- 

 ences on forest health. 



• Evaluate alternative silvicultural methods and hati'esting 

 systems for ecosystem management that reduce the impacts 

 of drought, pests, and wildfire and promote forest health. 



Support research and development of harvesting 

 technologies and sihicultiual regeneration methods 

 and intermediate treatments such as thinning for 

 reducing drought, pest, and \vildfire impacts. .An 

 interdisciplinai7 approach will be used. 



• Provide long-range forecasting of pest epidemics. Support 

 development of a long-range forecasting capability 

 for large-scale pest epidemics in the major forest 

 ecosystems. The technology would be based on the 

 histon' of large-scale pest epidemics and on past, 

 current, and expected futiue ecosystem conditions. 

 Long-range forecasts will impro\'e national planning 

 and preparation. 



32 Strategic Goals and Actions 



