Northeastern Area

Forest Health Protection

Technology Development

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Special Technology Development Program

The Special Technology Development Program (STDP) accelerates the transfer of research findings into practical uses that contribute to the goals of:

• Provide forest health protection for all lands
• Anticipate and respond to new or increasing forest health risks and threats
• Prevent, detect, and manage non-indigenous pest infestations
• Manage damaging native pest infestations (prevention and suppression)

Project proposals are submitted through the Northeastern Area for funding consideration as part of a nation wide competitive process. Projects are led by Forest Service employees responsible for delivery of Forest Health Protection (FHP) programs and frequently involve cooperation with other staffs or organizations.

The project range includes risk assessments, semiochemical evaluations, demonstrations of integrated pest management techniques, simulation and visualization models of insect and pathogen impacts, development of pest control techniques, and evaluation of the effects of management tools such as prescribed burning, spraying, and thinning.

The Northeastern Area participates in STDP by evaluating pre-proposals from cooperators and then submitting a total of 5 fully developed proposals to the National selection committee. Pre-proposals are generally requested in July for evaluation by a panel that includes at least one state cooperator, FS Research and FHP entomologists and pathologists. The principle investigators of the top five proposals are then requested to submit full proposals that are forwarded on to the National selection panel in mid-October.

Information on this program within Northeastern Area can be obtained by contacting Michelle Frank, STDP Coordinator, at (610) 557-4113 or via e-mail at mfrank@fs.fed.us.

Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team

Pest Trend Impact Plot System

The Pest Trend Impact Plot System (PTIPS) consists of permanent forested plots with data collected over time to monitor the behavior, trends and impacts of insect and pathogen pests in a variety of forest types and environmental conditions. The original PTIPS focus was in the western United States with the majority of existing plots residing there. The Northeastern Area joined the program in fy 2000 and has focused on the two pests of Beech Bark disease and Gypsy Moth.

Cooperators assist with PTIPS projects by collecting data on existing plots and installing new plots in under-sampled forest conditions using standardized methodology. Cooperators also help by developing a database used to develop, calibrate, and validate insect and pathogen models.

The Northeastern Area participates in PTIPS by evaluating pre-proposals from potential cooperators and forwarding revised proposals to the National selection committee. Pre-proposals are requested during the summer and proposals forwarded on to the National selection in October. Selected projects are then funded through the Northeastern Area prior to the field season of the following year.

More information about this program can be obtained by contacting Jim Steinman, Forest Health Monitoring Coordinator, at (610) 557-4158 or via e-mail at jsteinman@fs.fed.us.

Pest Trend-Impact Plot System (PTIPS)