With Farm Bill funding provided by U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Plant Protection and Quarantine, the Washington Invasive Species Council finished a new collaborative project in 2019 to improve response readiness for detections of new urban forest pests.
This work will continue with funding provided by the U.S. Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program, administered through the Washington State Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Forestry Program. For the next three years, be on the lookout for seminars, workshops, new planning and response resources, and a statewide summit.
Urban Forest Pest Readiness Playbook
Playbook
The playbook is a tool to prepare communities for potential pest outbreaks through self-assessments and recommended actions. The purpose is to close the gap in readiness and response capabilities between community leaders managing urban forests and state and federal responders.
Online Playbook Resources
The playbook contains different online resources such as a readiness contact list and planning templates. To view locations and contact information of supporting organizations, explore the readiness contact map. If you work for an organization that supports urban forest pest readiness and detection and would like to join our network, please fill out the form below.
Additional Resources
- Urban Forest Pest Readiness Contact Interactive Map
- Insect Specimen Collection Guide
- Plant Specimen Collection Guide
- Readiness Items Tracking Table
- Template Readiness Contact List
- Response Framework
- Template PowerPoint for Presentations
- Template Factsheet
- Template Economic Assessment Tool
Events and Webinars
2023 Urban Forest Pest Virtual Summit
The Washington Invasive Species Council and the Washington Department of Natural Resources, Urban and Community Forestry Program held an urban forest pest virtual summit in October 2023. This event was spread out over two days and provided the opportunity for attendees to learn about current and emergent pests of concern, prevention, and management strategies. It takes everyone working together to protect Washington’s forests from invasive species. Click a given presentation title to be brought to the corresponding timepoint in the YouTube recording.
Day 1
Evan Elderbrock, Oregon Department of Forestry, Confronting the Green Menace: Planning for the Emerald Ash Borer in the Pacific Northwest
Charles Ray, City of Vancouver, Vancouver’s Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan
Patrick Shults, Washington State University Extension Forestry, Forest Health and Pest Outreach
Jessica La Belle, Washington Invasive Species Council, Spotted Lanternfly and the Threat to Washington’s Municipalities
Corrie Podolak, Underwood Conservation District, Efforts to Control Tree of Heaven in White Salmon and Bingen
Laurel Downs, The Nature Conservancy, Don’t Move Firewood! Firewood Outreach and Resources
Day 2
Stephanie Helms, Washington Invasive Species Council, Role of Cities and Communities: Urban Forest Pest Readiness Playbook
Yolanda Inguanzo, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Response Structures
Maria Marlin, Washington Invasive Species Council, Reporting Invasive Species: See Something, Say Something
Scott Brooks, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Overview of Tree and Shrub Nursery Stock Inspection in Washington
Nathan Roueché, Washington State Department of Agriculture and Glenn Kohler, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Emerging Pests of Concern
Cassie Cichorz, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Statewide Pest Updates
Urban and Community Forestry Workshop Series
The council and Washington Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Forestry Program are planning a 2023 workshop series. The “Urban Forest Pest Readiness” workshop allows communities to meet with state and federal subject matter experts to walk city staff through the utilization of the Urban Forest Pest Readiness Playbook by engaging attendees in an interactive exercise working through the Playbook’s self-assessment of pest readiness, which asks the question: are you forest pest ready?
- Vancouver, WA
- Tacoma, WA
Interested in hosting a workshop in your own community? Email the Washington Department of Natural Resources Urban and Community Forestry Program to request a future workshop.
Recorded Webinar
The council hosted a Webinar on “Improving Statewide Readiness and Response to Washington Forest Pest Risks” on October 29, 2019. The webinar provided an overview of Washington’s new Urban Forest Pest Readiness Playbook.
Questions?
Interested in Getting Notifications and Updates about the Project?
E-mail the Washington Invasive Species Council to get answers and stay involved. Also consider signing up for the Washington Department of Natural Resources Tree-Link Newsletter.