Forest Service warns of threats to urban trees

FORT COLLINS – Trees in Colorado’s cities face “significant” insect and
disease threats, according to a new report from the Colorado State
Forest Service.

The 2009 Report on the Health of Colorado’s Forests details threats to
the state’s trees other than the much talked-about mountain pine
beetle, especially those posed to urban trees and almost half a million
acres of spruce and fir. The report was released Wednesday at the annual
Joint Ag and Natural Resources Committee Hearing in Denver.

“Spruce beetles have killed nearly all of the large, mature spruce
trees in the San Juan Mountains near the headwaters of the Rio Grande
River,´ said Jeff Jahnke, state forester and director of the Colorado
State Forest Service, in releasing the report.

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He added that the spruce beetle infestation has almost doubled from
last year, and was centered in the southern part of the state.

The report identified several other threats as well. The CSFS trapped
gypsy moths along the Front Range in 2009. If established, the moths
could impact many species of broadleaf and conifer trees. Additionally,
mountain pine beetles have been detected in more municipal areas.

“Mountain pine beetle continued to attack pines in urban areas along
the Front Range,´ said Bill Ciesla, aerial survey coordinator for the
CSFS and lead author of the report. “In 2009, a few attacks were even
seen as far east as Sterling.”

For more information about the forest health report or tips on how to
identify and manage tree pests, visit the Colorado State Forest Service
website at www.csfs.colostate.edu.