condition. Measures being used include thinning, prescribed fire, 

 salvage of dead trees, increased preparedness for suppression of 

 wildfire, and suppression of major pest outbreaks. Research and 

 development have been accelerated in support of the restoration 

 effort. Thousands of acres in the Blue Moimtains and elsewhere 

 are affected and even more disturbing are the other areas in the 

 Intermountain West that are rapidly developing similar un- 

 healthy conditions. Plans to expand the initiative to address these 

 other areas are being considered during the fiscal year 1994 and 

 1995 Forest Service budget processes. A long-term protection, 

 prevention, and restoration effort will be required. 



Concerns about the introduction and establishment of exotic 

 pests have increased, starting in 1990 with an industry proposal 

 to import larch logs from Russia. A pest risk analysis done by the 

 Forest Service for the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

 Service (APHIS) showed that potential damage could occur from 

 introduction of forest pests from Russia, leading to regidatory 

 action by APHIS. Meanwhile, three new exotic forest pests 

 (unrelated to log shipments) were detected in 1991 and 1992: 

 the Asian gypsy moth, common European pine shoot beetle, and 

 Eurasian poplar leaf rust. Previously introduced exotic pests 

 such as the European gypsy moth and white pine blister rust con- 

 tinue to spread and cause damage to new forest areas of the 

 United States. 



Scope 



This plan responds to forest health concerns that require nation- 

 al emphasis and strengthening of program policies or direction. 

 Concerns emphasized in this plan are forests where ecological 

 conditions have been altered resulting in increased susceptibility 

 to drought, pests, and wildfire; problems with introduced forest 

 pests; and forest pest and wildfire problems in the urban-wild- 

 land interface. Concerns closely related to forest health, for 

 example, those related to protection of grasslands and wetlands, 

 are not addressed in this plan. These other concerns will require 

 separate analysis. 



This plan outlines procedural acdons that will lead to better inte- 

 gration of forest health into agency planning and decision mak- 

 ing. It does not establish resource management policy, goals, or 

 objectives, or make resource management decisions. It does not 

 take the place of regional programs, plans, or policies, or land 



Healthy Forests for America's Future — A Strategic Plan 



