A healthy forest is a managed forest. Below are resources to help you safeguard your land against both biotic threats, such as insects and disease, and abiotic challenges including drought and wildfire. Implementing science-based forestry practices can ensure your trees and forestland remain productive, healthy, and sustainable.

Invasive Pest Range Maps

Forest pest range maps help forest managers understand threats and make better management decisions. The following maps are georeferenced and can be opened in compatible apps (e.g., Avenza Maps).

• Elm zigzag sawfly (US) / (North America)
• Spotted lanternfly
• Emerald ash borer
• Laurel wilt disease
• Cogongrass
• Thousand cankers disease 
• Firewood pests (invasive pests spread via firewood)

Pest Scouting Guides

What should you look for and what should you do when you find them? These scouting guides can help you keep your trees free of harmful invasive species.

• Scouting Guide: Emerald ash borer
• Scouting Guide: Elm zigzag sawfly
• Scouting Guide: Beech leaf disease
• Scouting Guide: Spotted lanternfly
• Scouting Guide: Asian longhorned beetle

Helpful Publications

Invasive Species

• Fact Sheet: Spotted lanternfly
• Fact Sheet: Asian longhorned beetle
• Fact Sheet: Emerald ash borer
• Fact Sheet: Elm zigzag sawfly
• Callery Pear: Bradford Pear, Other Varieties, and Their Invasive Offspring
• Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus)

Forest Health Management

• Firewood as a vector in invasive pest dispersal
• Woodland Owner Notes: Thinning Pine Stands
• Healthy Forests: Invasive Plants and Your Forests (AG-771)
• Healthy Forests: Managing for Resilience (AG-772)
• Promoting a Healthy Forest on Your Land (SREF-FH-001)

NC State Extension Pest Landing Pages

• Visit our Spotted lanternfly page for many resources related to identifying and managing this invasive pest.

Extension Programs

• The Bradford Pear Bounty aims to replace landscape and ornamental varieties of Pryus calleryana (including but not limited to the 'Bradford' variety). Homeowners who cut their pear downs receive a free native replacement. This program also seeks to raise awareness for the invasive properties of this tree.
• Poolside Pests is a program that aims to increase public awareness and citizen reporting of invasive species. When new pests are detected quickly, eradication efforts are more successful and our forests stay healthier.