What is the Forest Service doing to address the bark beetle infestations on National Forests?
The infestations developed so quickly and are so widespread that there is nothing the Forest Service or anyone can do to stop them. However, assessments of the situation are being conducted on affected National Forests and trends in tree mortality are being monitored. Thinning in and around recreation sites or adjacent to communities was accomplished in 2003. In 2003, a number of developed recreation sites were sprayed with insecticide to protect high value trees. The objective of these treatments is to protect the Forest Service investment in these facilities by maintaining aesthetic quality and minimizing the hazard dead trees pose to visitors. Evaluation of the 2003 treatments shows a very high success rate. The candidate areas include both previously treated and new sites. If we look at the bark beetle epidemic at the “Big Picture” scale, the recipe for future success requires thinning of unhealthy forests to restore their ability to naturally withstand these events, even in tough
