The more time I’ve spent outdoors, the more I’ve learned about the threats our trees face here in Pennsylvania. It seems like every other day I’m finding out about a new disease or invasive plant or insect that’s come to our shores and is devastating our trees. 

It’s sad to see our forests choked by kudzu vines. To see our trees impacted by the emerald ash borer, spongy moth and hemlock woolly adelgid. To see the once mighty American Chestnut tree wiped out by blight. 

And lets not forget about other issues like over foresting, wildfires and climate change. All taking a bite from our forests. One tree at a time. 

We will never have the forests that our ancestors would have seen. Old growth trees are limited to a few areas in the Commonwealth. And development has sliced most of our forests into bite-sized pieces. 

But that doesn’t mean we just give up. No way. 

A dedicated group of scientists and foresters are working to address these issues, protect our forests and stay ahead of the future threats that may try to take even more trees from our landscape.  

They are testing out new methods and processes that could save the trees that we have and, hopefully, prevent more species from being taken from us. But it’s not easy work. They are constantly having to adapt to new threats present in an ever-connected world. 

It’s incredibly important work. Anyone who cares for the outdoors – whether you’re a hunter or a hiker – needs to know about what each of us can do to address these threats on our property and help these scientists protect our forests. 

On this episode, I speak with Rosa Yoo. Rosa is a Forest Health Manager with the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Bureau of Forestry. 

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Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis