Forest Health Action Guide

The Forest Health Action Guide is a step-by-step guide to proactively monitor, respond and mitigate forest health threats — insects, pests and diseases — in your community.

About This Action Guide

A healthy urban forest maximizes environmental and public health benefits. Urban environments face constant challenges and changes that shift forest health management into a reactive perspective.

Use this guide to help you prepare for pests, diseases and compounding threats from climate change, development and disasters. 

Learn about how to implement a proactive forest health strategy in the five sections below.

Step One: Know What's Coming

forest decimated by tree pests
Before disaster strikes, you need to know what insects and diseases might be coming.
Step One

Step Two: Know Where It's Coming From

A photo of a border Inspector examining a pallet for insects. The inspector is dressed in a uniform and shines flashlight at the middle of a stack of wooden pallets wrapped in plastic wrap.
Pests and diseases easily cross international and municipal boundaries – from another continent to your neighbor down the street. 
Step Two

Step Three: Anticipate Climate Change Impacts

Volunteers planting trees on open land in Hartford CT.
Trees can be part of the climate solution by anticipating what the future may look like and how changing conditions might affect your whole urban forest.
Step Three

Step Four: Don't Wait for the Future

Fire crew trained and prepared to fight fires.
To sidestep disaster, know how to create a response plan before threats emerge.
Step Four

Step Five: Build and Deliver A Response Team

Participants in Detroit tree planting event discuss progress.
Long before disaster strikes, confer with your team, officials and the public to determine how you’ll respond.
Step Five
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