NM Forest Health Conditions for State and Private Lands Report released

SANTA FE, NM – The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) Forestry Division has developed a new web map and data dashboard showing areas that are being impacted by insects and disease across New Mexico to provide the public with more information about forest health.  The interactive tool is included with the newly released 2019 New Mexico Forest Health Conditions for State and Private Lands Report.

“For the first time, the Forestry Division has an interactive tool that could help landowners determine what might be making their trees sick,” said Dr. John Formby, Forest Health Program Manager.  “The new web map and data dashboard shows what’s happening on the ground in each region of the state, which landowners could use as an identification tool for insects and diseases on their property.” 

The latest Forest Health Conditions Report indicates decreased bark beetle activity in mid- to high-elevation forests in 2019.  Decreased activity in these forests was due, in part, to increased spring rainfall.  The spring rainfall improved tree health and enabled certain trees species, such as pines, to produce defensive compounds that ward off bark beetle attack.  However, in drought-stricken areas north of Grants, NM, stressed pinon pines were unable to produce suitable amounts of defensive compounds, which led to widespread bark beetle-induced piñon mortality.

A 13,000-acre outbreak of red band needle blight, a fungal disease uncommon across large areas of forest in New Mexico, was revealed during a ground check of reddening ponderosa foliage on the Philmont Scout Ranch in Colfax County.  This outbreak was most likely caused by increased rainfall and humidity during the spring and summer of 2019.  It is unusual to see such a large outbreak of a fungal disease in our typically arid climate.

While the wet spring helped some tree species, defoliator activity also increased substantially across the northern part of the state because trees such as spruce and aspen were able to produce more nutrient-rich needles and leaves.  This, in turn, improved the food supply, growth and development, and reproductive success of defoliating insects, such as western spruce budworm and western tent caterpillar.

Landowners are encouraged to contact their local Forestry Division District Forester to develop management plans in order to keep their lands productive and healthy for their family and future owners; to increase economic and environmental benefits; and to help prevent the potential for catastrophic wildfire.

For more information on the 2019 New Mexico Forest Health Conditions for State and Private Lands Report and the forest health dashboard go to http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SFD/.