Newly Published: A 2024 Update on Arizona Forest Health Conditions

The AZ Department of Forestry and Fire Management’s Forest Health Program helps monitor Arizona’s forest and woodland stand conditions on state, private, and federal lands. Every year, the forest health program conducts statewide aerial detection survey (ADS) flights in collaboration with the USDA Forest Service to provide land managers and the public with information regarding landscape level forest and woodland health conditions. To do so, program staff fly in small, fixed-winged aircraft to observe, identify, and map insect and disease outbreaks from the air in real time. Annual collection of this data allows us to compare and contrast different forest damage causal agents from year to year. 

The data collected is processed and used to create an annual Forest Health Conditions report, which summarizes the findings by AZ DFFM district and also provides a short update on Arizona’s Urban Forest Health issues. The 2024 report detailed worsening drought conditions and increasing average temperatures; which is worth mentioning because drought stressed trees are more susceptible to insect and disease infestation.

Due to this increase in stress on our forests this year, more than 33,000 acres were observed with bark beetle-caused tree mortality. This was more than a 94% increase when compared to 2023. Additionally, the non-native Mediterranean Pine Engraver was found for the first time in Sedona and Cottonwood - indicating it is spreading further around Arizona.

Forest Health Protection Program - This is Who We Are

Video from the USDA Forest Service

If you've ever been curious about what forest health monitoring entails and why it's important, check out this video produced by the USDA Forest Service.

Arbor Day K-12 Poster Contest - deadline extended!

New Deadline: March 14, 2025

There's still time to participate! Our K-12 Poster Contest submissions are due March 14, 2025. Prizes are involved, and winners are displayed at the Capitol Museum for the month of April. View the Contest Flyer for more details!

March Webinars and Classes

• March 7 - April 11: 2025 Certified Arborist Training and Review - a 6-class course located in Mesa designed to prepare tree-care industry workers for the ISA Certified Arborist Exam.

• March 11: A300 Tree Care Standards Workshop A comprehensive overview of ANSI A300 Tree Care Standards in Scottsdale, AZ.

• March 21: Beyond Assisted Migration: Sourcing seeds that are adapted and adaptable to a shifting climate Learn about the impacts of a changing climate on native plants and innovative approaches to sourcing seed for resilient habitat restoration.

• March 27: Riparian Restoration Practitioner Workshop: Lower San Pedro River A free, hands-on workshop for emerging and experienced restoration practitioners.

• April 1: 2-Day Pruning Workshop with Ed Gilman Sharpen your skills with the expert arborist and author of "An Illustrated Guide to Pruning" in Chandler, AZ.

• April 22: Women in Arboriculture Workshop As part of the WCISA Conference, this is a tree climbing, equipment choices, and safety workshop for women, taught by women in Tucson, AZ.

Upcoming Conferences:

• March 11-13: Southwest Agroforestry Action Network (SWAAN) Annual Conference - Santa Fe, NM

• March 27-29: Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Conference - Kansas City, MO

• April 1-3: Society of American Foresters Rising Professionals Conference - Madison, WI

• April 22-25: Branching Out: Innovations in Arboriculture for a Sustainable Future - WCISA Annual Conference & Trade Show - Tucson, AZ

• Save the Date! May 9: Desert Horticulture Conference - Tucson, AZ

Community Events:

• Weekly: Volunteer tree planting opportunities! With Tucson Clean and Beautiful

• March 8 & 25: Help to beautify the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area with Arizona Sustainability Alliance at their Adopt-A-Park Rio Salado events

• March 23: Stop by and say hi on Family Fundays at the Phoenix Art Museum!

• April 5: Celebrate and learn about local water resources at the Water Awareness Month Festival in Phoenix

• Climber Registration is open for the 2025 Tree Climbing Championship!

Next month, our Urban and Community Forestry programs will be highlighted in celebration of Arbor Day. Stay tuned!