A regional assessment to determine the impact of the ice storm on the forest resource and the maple sugar industry in northern New England and New York was completed in 1999. The species most affected by the storm were aspen, black cherry, red maple, and American beech. White ash, birch, basswood, oak and sugar maples also lost substantial portions of their crowns in many areas. A Federal appropriation provided for technical and financial assistance for communities, private nonindustrial landowners, and sugar maple producers to recover from the damage caused by the ice storm. Funds were also provided for long-term monitoring to determine effects on forest health, wildlife, plant communities, sugarbushes, and urban trees.
Exotic pests are still a major concern within the state.
The most recent introduction is the Asian longhorn beetle , which was discovered in Brooklyn and on Long Island during the summer of 1996. Since then, other infestations were discovered in Queens, Manhattan, Bayside, and Islip. A quarantine is in effect encompassing all know infected areas. The trees in these areas appear to have been infested for several years. Hardwoods are the preferred hosts of this insect, especially maples.