Climate Change Response Framework

The Urban Forestry Framework project addresses urban forest vulnerability for cities in the United States, and creates tools to help local managers adapt to the effects of climate change.

Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, University of Georgia

Known colloquially as Bugwood, the Center supports efforts to detect pests, respond to new introductions, document changes and manage the health of our ecosystems. Solutions to these problems require collaborations that transcend traditional disciplinary, departmental, institutional and agency approaches, as well as state and national borders.

Firewise: A program to help communities protect against wildfires

Established by the National Fire Protection Association, Firewise is a tested and proven template communities and property owners use to block wildfire from towns and buildings.

Climate change increases global risk to urban forests

By 2050, more than 70 percent of urban trees could be vulnerable to climate-drive changes in mean annual temperature and annual precipitation.

Alien Pest Explorer

This tool provides detailed spatial data describing pest distributions and host inventory estimates for damaging, non-indigenous forest insect and disease pathogens currently established in the United States.

The Economics of Invasive Species

An in-depth look at the economic damages non-native species cause and the methods economists often use to measure those damages. It’s a lot. Federal agencies reported spending more than half a billion dollars per year in 2000 for alone for prevention and control. And that doesn’t account for the costs borne by cities, property owners […]

Tree insect pests and pathogens: a global systematic review

A comprehensive review of global evidence on the impacts of urban tree insect pests and pathogens focusing on ecologic, economic and social impacts including human health.

Economic impacts of non-native forest insects in the continental United States

For each of three groups of insects (based on feeding patterns), the authors calculated the economic damages for five cost categories and estimated the probability of future introductions of damaging pests. Wood- and phloem-boring insects are anticipated to cause the largest economic impacts by annually inducing nearly $1.7 billion in local government expenditures and approximately […]

Drought- and heat-induced mortality of conifer trees is explained by leaf and growth legacies

Extreme heat events have increased — leading to more drought and declines in tree health.

Worcester’s Response to Asian Longhorned Beetle: Reforestation, Stewardship, and Sustainability

A case study that documents what happened after homeowner Donna Massie discovered the first ALB in Massachusetts in her backyard. Many players, many successes, a few failures. Includes resources for the public and professionals.

Don’t move firewood

Definitely not an advert for gas fireplaces. Helps consumers and professionals learn how firewood moved from far away carries noxious passengers — invasive species that pose extreme risks to trees. Includes resources about problem species, guides, and communications tools. For pros and lay folks alike.

Heat and health: It could get worse

If climate change creates more — and more intense — heat islands, premature deaths may total as many as 110,000 a year under a high impact scenario and roughly 50,000 annually with moderate impacts.