Forest ThreatNet

Thanks for reading the 2023 Spring edition of Forest ThreatNet, a newsletter for communicating current research and science delivery efforts of the Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center (EFETAC), a research unit of the Forest Service’s Southern Research Station. 

Like our sister Threat Center, the Western Wildland Environmental Threat Assessment Center (WWETAC), EFETAC was established in 2005 and jointly funded by three Forest Service deputy areas: the National Forest System, State and Private Forestry, and Research and Development. The core mission of these two centers is to create science for monitoring, assessing, and predicting environmental threats to forest ecosystems and the resources they provide. Just as importantly, we are also charged with communicating and delivering our science and tools to stakeholders.

The COVID19 pandemic episodes over the past three years seem to be finally behind us, but the experience surely will forever shape our lives and how we conduct our work. As highlighted in this issue, despite the pandemic challenges, the capacity of EFETAC has continued to grow and expand over the past year to address emerging issues in the eastern U.S., the nation, and globally. Recurring and intensified hurricane damage, sea level rise, invasive species, insect and disease outbreaks, and land use changes including rapid urbanization continue to challenge the heath of forest ecosystems and their benefits to the public. Nor is the humid eastern U.S. immune to damaging wildfires, drought, and water shortages. We are on high alert using the most advanced tools to track forest disturbances and monitor how forest ecosystems respond, and amid increasing environmental threats and disturbances, we continue to develop technologies that help enhance ecosystem resilience and guide effective restoration.

Our recently updated Research Work Unit Description provides a 5-year plan to develop new science and technology for protecting and managing eastern forests and the benefits they provide. These public benefits, from clean water at home faucets to local economic growth, are increasingly being recognized as populations continue to grow in the eastern U.S. I am pleased to see the substantial growth in funding opportunities provided by Congress to the agency in 2023. This will surely help the research community including EFETAC reach its potential and meet the challenges of the coming years. Threat Center scientists are playing an active role in supporting various programs mandated by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.

Please enjoy this Newsletter and visit our website for more information. We welcome your comments and suggestions and hope to see some of you in person.

          Director, Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center