Forest Health

Cooperative monitoring efforts between Iowa DNR, Iowa State University, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), USDA Forest Service (USFS), USDA Plant Protection Quarantine (PPQ), municipal foresters, and private land owners encourages efficient monitoring of forest health threats. In addition, cooperation fosters improved communications to professionals and others about Iowa's forest resource management issues.

• Top 5 Emerging Threats to Iowa's Trees
• Impacts of Gypsy Moth to Iowa
• Impacts of Emerald Ash Borer to Iowa
• Impacts of Bur Oak Blight to Iowa
• Impacts of Thousands Cankers Disease to Iowa
• Impacts of Asian Longhorned Beetle to Iowa
• Butternut Canker
• Oak Leaf Tatters
• Oriental Bittersweet
• Hickory Decline
• Rapid White Oak Mortality Citizen Survey Directions
• Rapid White Oak Mortality Citizen Survey
• Invasive Species Best Management Practices (BMP's)

There has been a drastic increase in calls to the Iowa DNR from landowner looking for the proper resources and assistance in diagnosing tree or woodland health issues. This web page has been set up to help landowners find those valuable contacts.

This following assistance is a cooperative effort between Iowa DNR, Iowa State University, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), USDA Forest Service (USFS), USDA Plant Protection Quarantine (PPQ), and the International Society of Arboriculture.

• Use the DNR Forest Health Monitor to track where pests are occurring in the State of Iowa.
  https://iowadnr.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9d901351b2e04bf680a9f4d79ba64d0d
   
• If you have a sick tree and need it tested for an accurate diagnosis, please visit the Iowa State University Plant Diagnostic Clinic:
  https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/pidc/plant 
  This is the best first stop to get help.
   
• If you have an insect that you would like to to be identified, please visit this site at Iowa State University Entomology:
  https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/pidc/insect
   
• If you would like a plant or weed to be identified, please visit this site at Iowa State University:
  https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/pidc/weed
   
• If you would like to try and identify your own pests (insect, invasive plants, diseases, and more), please visit this webpage:
  https://www.bugwood.org/
   
• If you need to find a certified Arborist to work on your yard tree please visit this site run by the International Society of Arboriculture;
  https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/findanarborist
   
• If you are a woodland owner and need a forester or other specialist, the list can be found here:
  https://naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/wildlife/contacts/wildlife-habitat-programs-and-consultation
   
• If you would like to see the latest pest updates, please visit the Iowa Department of Agriculture Page here:
  http://iowatreepests.com/
   
• For help with forest management plans, your DNR District Forester can be found here:
  https://www.iowadnr.gov/Conservation/Forestry/Forestry-Landowner-Assistance
   
• For help with pest outbreaks and technical questions contact the DNR Forest Health Specialist here:
  https://www.iowadnr.gov/Conservation/Forestry/Forest-Health
   
• For urban forest assistance including urban inventories please contact the DNR Urban Forest Specialist here:
  https://www.iowadnr.gov/Conservation/Forestry/Urban-Forestry
   
• For wood utilization and bonded timber buyer questions, please contact the Special Forest Program Coordinator here:
  https://www.iowadnr.gov/Conservation/Forestry/Wood-Industry-Logging
   
• If you are looking into replanting forest seedlings after a pest outbreak, please check out the State Forest Nursery Site here:
  https://www.iowadnr.gov/Conservation/Forestry/State-Forest-Nursery
   

Tivon Feeley
Forest Health Forester
515-725-8453
Tivon.Feeley@dnr.Iowa.gov

Iowa DNR foresters conduct surveys and evaluations and monitor forest insects, forest diseases, invasive plants, and forest management practices. This is done to determine the status, changes, and trends in forest health conditions. 

Foresters use the data from ground surveys, aerial surveys, and other sources to develop comprehensive management approaches to address forest health issues that affect the sustainability of Iowa’s forest ecosystems. 

The findings are compiled on a yearly basis into forest health reports:

Forest Health Report 2019
Forest Health Report 2018
Forest Health Report 2017
Forest Health Report 2016
Forest Health Report 2015
Forest Health Report 2014
Forest Health Report 2013
Forest Health Report 2012
Forest Health Report 2011