Understanding the condition of our forests helps us understand the ecosystems that our communities rely on and our relationships with them. It helps us plan for the future and work to better protect one of our most valuable resources. Often, we only see large-scale impacts of poor forest health: bark beetle outbreaks larger than any in the previous historic record or wildfires that are remarkable in their severity and size. By looking at specific indicators of forest health on an annual scale, the FHI shows us which factors are changing the most (and the least) locally. This perspective can help us both to look back and better understand the dynamics that supported our forests in the past and to look forward to consider how best to protect and support our forests.
About Forest Health Index
Science Advisory Board
Linda Joyce
Research Project Leader
Rocky Mountain Research Station
David Lawrence
Scientist II
National Center For Atmospheric Research
Jerry Meehl
Senior Scientist
National Center For Atmospheric Research
Jeff Morisette
Director
Doi North Central Climate Science Center
Michael G Ryan
Research Forest Ecologist
Rocky Mountain Research Station
David Schimel
Research Scientist
NASA JPL
Diana Six
Professor Of Forest Entomology/Pathology
University Of Montana
Alan Townsend
Professor & Director Cu-boulder Environmental Studies Program
Institute For Arctic And Alpine Research, University Of Colorado
What is Forest Health?
No single measurement that can tell us if a forest is healthy or not. Part of this is because forests are always changing. Over time one tree species may thrive while another will die off. Fires or bark beetles can decimate thousands of acres. the way for new and diverse species. None of these things mean a forest is unhealthy. We do know that our forests have evolved with a stable climate. Things like precipitation, snowpack, and temperature vary every year but over long periods of time, they are stable. As humans continue to impact natural ecosystems these critical components are changing. Streams are being diverted or sucked dry for agriculture and development. Climate change is increasing temperatures. Air pollution from communities and industry is widespread. As these drivers of forest health continue to change forests will suffer.
And Why is it Important?
Understanding the condition of our forests helps us understand our communities. It helps us plan for the future, and better protect one of our most valuable resources. Often times we only see the impacts of poor forest health. Bark beetle outbreaks larger than any in the historic record or wildfires that continue to grow more serve and widespread. Like a fever from an infection these are only the symptoms. We cannot protect our forests by treating the symptom. The FHI shows us how the conditions that impact forest health are changing over time.