The first edition of the Western Bark Beetle Assessment was published by WFLC in 2002, updated in March of 2007. This update is the third edition of the report. The Coalition’s Forest Health and Invasive Species Resource Management Committee initiated this series of update to the Western Bark Beetle Assessment at the 2006 WFLC Spring meeting. The WFLC Executive Board approved the proposal, formalizing it within the committee’s work plan.

Executive Summary

The Problem: Unhealthy Forests and Bark Beetle Outbreaks
Many of today’s western forests are denser, have different species composition and stand structure, and lack age diversity compared with forests prior to European settlement. In the wetter, high elevation forests of the West, stand density is within the historic range, but the majority of stands have reached an age where bark beetle susceptibility is peaking. The current condition of western forests is a result of many influences, not the least of which are the past actions of humans on the landscape. The effects of fire exclusion, grazing, unsustainable logging, drought, and the lack of forest management are recognized as contributing factors leading to unhealthy western forests. Current and changing climatic conditions are combining with these human impacts on forest conditions to trigger widespread bark  beetle-caused tree mortality. From 2002 to 2003, the number of forested acres in the West detected with bark beetlecaused tree mortality saw the largest increase ever recorded, more than doubling from 4 million to 10 million acres.

The Consequences: Public Benefits at Risk
Native bark beetles are important components of western forest ecosystems and some level of bark beetle-caused tree mortality is desired for proper ecosystem function. However high levels of tree mortality negatively impact communities and place important public values at risk. Healthy forests provide clean air and water, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, and serve as renewable sources of a diversity of forest products. The nation depends upon these public benefits derived from healthy forests for their economic, social, and ecological well-being. These public benefits are being negatively impacted by bark beetle outbreaks, and are at risk of being negatively impacted for many generations to come.

The Solution: Strategic and Active Forest Management
This assessment consolidates the most up-to-date information on bark beetle outbreaks in the western U.S. and outlines a framework for prioritized action. This framework includes: a map of high priority acres to be considered for active forest management, a toolbox of scientifically-sound active management techniques to mitigate negative impacts from bark beetles, and the identification of cooperative groups that can leverage resources and manage bark beetle outbreaks across all boundaries and at multiples scales. This framework will facilitate efficient and effective efforts to mitigate bark beetle outbreaks and their associated negative impacts on the highest priority acres in the West. Even with additional resources and a highly concerted effort, there will be no quick fix. The problem requires a commitment to long-term forest stewardship to shift the balance back toward healthy, vigorous forests that are resilient to drought and bark beetle attacks. This stewardship strategy can encourage collaboration and help ensure that forests continue to provide the numerous public benefits that Americans value for generations to come.

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Western Bark Beetle Assessment