Forest Resource Protection Forest Health, Insect & Disease Forest Fire Control Staff

Healthy forests are at the heart of activities conducted by the Forest Resource Protection Section. Our main focus is monitoring forest condition, and protecting resource loss from wildfire, outbreaks of diseases and insect pests, and other major disturbances. Our two major program areas are:

Forest Fire Control

Assistance is provided to protect people, property, and natural resources from uncontrolled wildfire in rural Vermont by working with town Forest Fire Wardens, regional partners in the Northeast Forest Fire Protection Commission and federal agencies.

Technical support and specialized forest fire fighting equipment are provided, by request, to assist towns in suppressing large or difficult wildfires.

Debris burning is the most common cause of wildland fires in Vermont. Burning permits, which are issued by the town fire wardens, and education efforts help prevent forest fire starts.

Training courses are presented by Forest Protection Specialists to town firefighters and other fire service organizations, in cooperation with the Vermont Fire Academy and the US Forest Service.

Forest Health, Insects and Diseases

The health of Vermont’s forest resource is monitored by periodic measurements of tree condition and other ecosystem parameters like soils, indicator plants, and vegetation structure.

Forest insects, disease pests, or other biotic and abiotic stressors can damage timber, sugarbush, urban forest, Christmas tree and non-commercial forest resources. These are monitored and managed to prevent significant losses through information programs and technical assistance.

The Forest Biology Laboratory supports forest health assessments and management through research, public education, and extension activities, including maintaining insect and disease records, and responding to requests for diagnoses and recommendations.

The Vermont Division of Forestry is a major partner in the Vermont Monitoring Cooperative, a network of cooperators from government, academic and private sectors who pool information on Vermont’s forest ecosystem, and conduct studies at two intensive monitoring sites.