Dying Trees and the State of Colorado Forests

If a tree dies in the forest does anyone notice? The Colorado State Forest Service does. The 2011 Report on the Health of Colorado’s Forests has just been released. If you’ve driven up to the high country lately you may have noticed large swaths of red colored pines where there used to be pre-dominately green healthy trees. This report talks about the effect of the pine beetle on Colorado forests as well as other pests and diseases. There are maps showing the areas affected by infestations and descriptions of the ongoing efforts to keep our forests healthy. If you’d like to learn more about Colorado’s forests take some time to look through this publication. There is a general forest overview (p. 19) and also a special section that focuses on the great plains.