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Learn about the epidemic proportions of insect infestations in Western North American forests and the potential ecological devastation they can cause. This presentation delves into current research, communication campaign proposals, and important lessons learned, aiming to educate the public and engage stakeholders in crucial discussions. Explore the impacts of insect-killed trees on wildfires, climate change concerns, and the benefits and challenges of managing forest insects.
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What does this picture make you feel? * Photo from http://www.canalazul24.com/?p=23401
Addressing the Insect Issue in the Forests of Western North AmericaA Presentation By:Tucker FreemanMaster of Natural Resources StudentUniversity of Idaho *Photo from http://www.americanforests.org/magazine/article/managing-forests-against-insect-infestation/ - Summary of current research - Communication campaign proposal - Communication campaign opportunities and weaknesses - Next Steps for the project - One important lesson learned
Addressing the Insect Issue in the Forests of Western North AmericaSummary of Scientific ResearchCurrent Insect Infestation of Epidemic Proportion • “From northern Mexico up to northern Canada” (Tinker in Robbins 2010) • Outbreak is an order of magnitude larger in area and severity in British Columbia (Kurz et al. 2008) • Largest in U.S. history (US Forest Service 2011) *Photo from http://uanews.org/story/climate-change-could-cripple-southwestern-forests
Addressing the Insect Issue in the Forests of Western North AmericaSummary of Scientific ResearchEffects Have Been Alarming with Potential to be Ecologically Devastating • Beetles, moths, and worms kill mature conifers during their normal life cycles • As of 2010, nearly 70,000 square miles of forest had been killed in the U.S and Canada • Legitimate concerns exist that a warming climate will intensify the epidemic (US Forest Service 2011) • In combination with proper fire weather, recently insect-killed trees are a major fire hazard • If major wildfires took place in large dead stands, forests could turn from carbon sinks to carbon sources • Additional concerns from catastrophic wildfires • Residential losses • Aesthetics • Recreational opportunities • Water budget dynamics • Soil productivity • Fish and wildlife habitat loss Photo from http://blogs.idahostatesman.com/otter-nez-perces-whitman-debate-forest-trust-idea-in-d-c/ *Photo from http://uanews.org/story/climate-change-could-cripple-southwestern-forests
Addressing the Insect Issue in the Forests of Western North AmericaSummary of Scientific ResearchInsects are Natural to Western Forests, Even at Epidemic Levels • Epidemics have occurred regularly throughout forest history and are a normal part of functioning ecosystems • Can benefit forests by killing weak trees and increasing nutrient access • Land management has been slow to respond due to speculation on the issue * Photo from http://blogs.idahostatesman.com/otter-nez-perces-whitman-debate-forest-trust-idea-in-d-c/ *Photo from http://uanews.org/story/climate-change-could-cripple-southwestern-forests
Addressing the Insect Issue in the Forests of Western North AmericaWestern Forest Insect Communication ProgramPurposes • Educate the public on the issue, particularly those in affected areas • Engage the public, land managers, and scientists in meaningful discourse which facilitates mutual learning • Provide a forum for public participation in discussions, planning, decision-making, and implementation actions *Photo from http://www.tripleblaze.com/blog/2010/08/09/happy-birthday-smokey-the-bear/
Addressing the Insect Issue in the Forests of North AmericaWestern Forest Insect Communication ProgramEducating the Public • Program website with educational materials, links, and an event calendar • Campaign brochure for those without internet access • Facebook page with photo catalog on topic • Quarterly newsletter
Addressing the Insect Issue in the Forests of North AmericaWestern Forest Insect Communication ProgramStakeholder Collaboration • Forest management agencies will be engaged to identify geographic areas in which to target initial marketing activities • Initial marketing will direct people to the program website, brochure, Facebook page, and newsletter • Resource councils will be introduced and assembled with representative from the public, land management agencies, and scientists • Forum through which discussion, planning, decision-making, and implementation of action occur • Stakeholder engagement • Cooperative learning environment
Addressing the Insect Issue in the Forests of North AmericaWestern Forest Insect Communication ProgramProgram Opportunities and Weaknesses Opportunities • Media spotlighting wildfires regionally and nationally • The role of the internet in the daily lives of Americans enhances the reach and effectiveness of a marketing campaign at minimal costs • Pictures, pictures, pictures. Pictures of dead forests and wildfire evoke emotion and wonder on the topic • Land management agencies have a wealth of resources to dedicate to the issue Weaknesses • Project scope in terms of geographic area and sheer number of people affected • Scope size of the project will require a lot of funding, which will be provided entirely by grants to begin with * Photo from http://summitcountyvoice.com/2011/06/26/wildfires-forest-regeneration-stymied-by-hot-crown-fires/
Addressing the Insect Issue in the Forests of North AmericaWestern Forest Insect Communication ProgramFuture Plans • Expand the target audience to forest visitors • Forest visitors are those not residing in areas immediately affected by insects, but travel there • Forest visitors have their own values and views tied to the forest to bring to the conversation • Assimilating forest visitor representative on resource advisory councils will enhance the value of stakeholder collaboration in the forest insect management process • Adding this demographic to the marketing mix may lead to new revenue streams for the program
Addressing the Insect Issue in the Forests of North AmericaMost Important Lesson Learned • The Value of Communication • Often taken for granted, neglected, or done poorly • Discoveries are useless without the communication strategies and mediums to connect them to the masses • In the case of Western forest insects, the directives of land management agencies are ill-fated without public input and public awareness • Hence the need for a communication program!
Addressing the Insect Issue in the Forests of North AmericaReferences • Kurz, W. A., Dymond, C. C., Stinson, G., Rampley, G. J., Neilson, E. T., Carroll, A. L.,…Safranyik, L. (2008). Mountain pine beetle and forest carbon feedback to climate change. Nature, 452(24), 987-990. • Robbins, J. (2010). What’s killing the great forests of the American West? Retrieved from http://e360.yale.edu/content/feature.msp?id=2252 • Romme, W. H., Clement, J., Hicke, J., Kulakowski, D., MacDonald, L. H., Schoennagel, T. L., & Veblen, T. T. (2006). Recent forest insect outbreaks and fire risk in Colorado forests: a synthesis of relevant research. Retrieved from http://coloradoforestrestoration.org/CFRIpdfs/2006_InsectOutbreakFireRisk.pdf • United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. (2011). Western bark beetle strategy: human safety, recovery, and resiliency. Retrieved from http://www.fs.fed.us/publications/bark-beetle/bark-beetle-strategy-appendices.pdf