Forest Health & Monitoring Division Information
Program Functions
Operational Strategies:
The extent and diversity of the forest and shade tree resource protected on the 17.7 million acres of forest land and 498 municipalities necessitates integrated and interactive operations. The Division collaborates with other agencies within the state, with neighboring jurisdictions, and with the federal government to optimize efficiencies by sharing resources, analyses, and information. At the local level, the Division utilizes a network of client/cooperators to augment internal capacity and address local problems.
Maintain Statewide Forest Health and Sustainability Monitoring Surveillance System:
- Detect and monitor current and potential insect, disease, and other environmental stresses of the forest and shade tree resource, statewide;
- Evaluate actual and potential impacts of identified stressors; analyze, and report stressors, impacts, and forest health information to the affected publics.
- Conduct and report on the annuallized 5-year cyclical inventory of the condition/extent of Maine's forest resources.
Provide Technical Assistance to Forest Landowners, Municipalities and Individuals:
- Provide information and technical advice and assistance to individuals, municipalities, and other state, municipal and federal agencies on identification, significance and control of forest insects and diseases;
- Provide, if requested, similar information for nonforest insects on other than agricultural crops;
- Develop and champion use of model pest management and damage prevention techniques and practices.
Conduct and Supervise Control Actions:
- Provide design, oversight, administration, and funding infrastructure, when justified, for large (multimillion acre) and small scale pest management and remediation projects;
- Serve as lead agency and liaison for cooperative federal, state, municipal and private pest control efforts.
Enforce State and Federal Quarantine Laws:
- Oversee and enforce state quarantines directly relating to the forest resource (Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, Gypsy Moth, Pine Shoot Beetle, European Larch Canker, White Pine Blister Rust) to protect the resource base and minimize constraint of commerce;
- Assist in enforcement of relevant federal quarantine laws;
Conduct Applied Research on Management of Forest Stressors:
- Analyze host:stressor interactions to determine possible preventative or corrective actions;
- Utilize knowledge of cultural practices to develop practical options;
- To the extent possible, develop proactive managerial prescriptions.
