Protect and restore wildlife habitat. Avoid actions that will endanger native plant or animal species or natural communities. Avoid the accidental introduction and spread of non-native species. Integrated Pest Management systems which employ environmentally sensitive approaches or combinations of treatments to reduce harmful forest pests or unwanted vegetation below damaging thresholds. Increasing demands and a rising human population bring pressure to the nation's forest ecosystems.
Stressors threaten the ability of forests to meet the needs of people and society.
Forest health problems should be addressed through strategies which are based on sound ecological principles and which meet landowner objectives that are compatible with those principles. Forest health policies must be based on the recognition of diverse objectives in forest management and the understanding that ecosystems are dynamic, open and changing, but can be positively affected by management to improve resilience to natural and human-caused stressors. State forestry agencies manage a significant portion of the nation's public lands and provide technical assistance and protection to private landowners. NASF can play an important role in improving the health of the nation's forests. The NASF Forest Health policy reflects this role and encourages the development of information, the provision of technical assistance, the facilitation of cooperation and the practice of sound regulations and management as the means for fulfilling our forest health responsibilities.