• Maine Forest Service
  

This annual summary report describes the efforts towards understanding and managing the health issues of importance to Maine’s forest resources. Emphasis is placed primarily on insect and disease relationships of forest, shade, and ornamental trees. The myriad of biotic and abiotic agents capable of damaging trees can result in losses to wood production and quality, water quality values, recreational opportunities and enjoyment and, in some cases, to human health. Conversely, the great majority of these agents are not simply beneficial, but critical to the productive functioning of forest ecosystems. Therefore, our understanding of the role insect and disease agents play in maintaining a healthy forest is as important as mitigating the damaging effects of the few native and invasive pest species capable of significant disruptions to forest sustainability.