North Carolina Forest Service : 2021 forest health highlights (an update on the health of state and private forests in North Carolina)

NORTH CAROLINA FOREST SERVICE 2021 Forest Health Highlights (An update on the health of state and private forests in North Carolina) Our Forests Forestry is one of North Carolina’s most important industries, providing more than 148,000 jobs and contributing $34.6 billion to the state’s annual economy. The state’s forestland covers nearly 18.8 million acres, or approximately 61% of the state’s land area. Most of this forestland, approximately 1 1.3 million acres, is owned by individuals, families and non-corporate entities. Roughly 2.9 million acres is owned by private corporations not involved in forest product manufacturing, and about 1.3 million acres is owned by forest industry. Federal, state, and local public lands total 2.6 million acres. The forestry industry ranks first in manufacturing sector jobs and second in overall statewide employment. North Carolina forests are prized for their scenic beauty, supporting tourism, outdoor recreation, and providing wildlife habitat from the Appalachian Mountains to the lowlands of the Atlantic Coastal Plain. The beauty and productivity of North Carolina's forests have historically been challenged by a variety of threats, both native and nonnative. Over the last 10 years, three normative invasive species have been detected for the first time in the state: laurel wilt in 201 1; thousand cankers disease of walnuts in 2012; and emerald ash borer in 2013. Pests such as hemlock woolly adelgid and gypsy moth have impacted forests in the state for more than 20 years. Others, such as spotted lanternfly and Asian longhomed beetle, have been found in adjacent states and are being monitored closely in North Carolina. COVID-19 Impacts North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS) programs and services were greatly impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic. Aerial surveying to detect and document southern pine beetle mortality, forest tent caterpillar defoliation and damage caused by other pests was grounded until late summer. Alternative technologies, such as satellite remote sensing, were utilized to attempt detection of forest health threats. Forest health meetings, training, and education and outreach events were delivered via online formats. Field services were provided with social distancing, while some field visits were prioritized or eliminated through diagnostic use of photographs from landowners, homeowners, and forestry professionals. Click here for information on how to properly photograph tree pests and disorders. Cell phone pictures can be useful aids for diagnosis oj insect, disease, and other forest health issues. This image shows emerald ash borer larvae as well as the damage they cause beneath the bark.