Forest Health and Disturbance

Healthy forests anchor entire ecosystems and are also essential to human needs. We are working to protect forest health and understand disturbances. We recognize that fire can be a disturbance, and that the absence of fire in a fire-adapted ecosystem is also a disturbance.  

The Center for Forest Health and Disturbance (CFHD) is home to our insects, diseases, and invasive plants research; our prescribed fire and smoke science teams; forest genetics and tree improvement; as well as integrated physiology, soils, and carbon and nutrient cycling studies.  

Three Research Work Units (RWU) make up this Center:  

• Disturbance and Prescribed Fire Science Laboratory (RWU-4156). Studying disturbance processes and developing innovative management strategies.  
• Forest Genetics and Ecosystems Biology (RWU-4160). Understanding the roles of genetics, environment, and their interactions.  
• Insects, Diseases, and Invasive Plants (RWU-4552). Managing and controlling pests, pathogens, and invasive plants.