Forest-Climate Politics in Bangladesh's Media Discourse In

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Forest-Climate Politics in Bangladesh's Media Discourse In Open Journal of Forestry 2013. Vol.3, No.1, 1-7 Published Online January 2013 in SciRes (http://www.scirp.org/journal/ojf) http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ojf.2013.31001 Forest-Climate Politics in Bangladesh’s Media Discourse in Comparison to Global Media Discourse Md. Nazmus Sadath1,2, Max Krott1, Carsten Schusser1 1Chair of Forest and Nature Conservation Policy, Georg August University Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany 2Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh Email: [email protected], [email protected] Received September 7th, 2012; revised November 3rd, 2012; accepted November 19th, 2012 Forest and climate issues are prominent within the policies and media in Bangladesh, as well as on the global level. In this study, media discourses from 1989 to 2010 from the “International Herald Tribune” and “The Daily Ittefaq” of Bangladesh are analyzed. Quantitative content analysis classifies 16 frames of the forest and climate issue and 17 political actors. Substantial differences between the forest and climate discourses of the national and international media have been discovered. The national print media reports that the forest is in a crisis due to climate change, whereas the international print media describes the for- est as a solution opportunity to climate change. The hypothesis that the international media drives the na- tional media discourse is rejected. The national media forest and climate discourse in Bangladesh began five years earlier than in the international media, and the different framing of the forest and climate issues can be explained by the influence of strong actors on both the national and international level. Journalists and politicians are the strongest influences in the national print media (The Daily Ittefaq) and primarily frame the discussion around the adverse impact of climate change on the forest in Bangladesh, a country that faces potentially severe effects from climate change. By stressing that climate change has caused a forest crisis, the national media brings attention to a threat that they are not responsible for. Scientists, Non-Governmental Organizations and international organizations are the major voices in the international print media (International Herald Tribune). They shape the global forest and climate media discourse around the wider scope of forests’ role in climate change. International scientists and NGOs present themselves as problem solvers of climate change by framing the discussion around the mitigating role of the forests. These strategic arguments explain the differences in media discourse. Keywords: Climate Change; Forest-Climate Discourse; Political Actor; Media Framing Introduction: The Dynamic Media Discourse climate issue, even though the problem exists beyond the na- about Climate Change and the Forest tional state boundary, in part because there are countries such as Bangladesh that will be affected by this global problem more In the last century, deforestation, desertification and forest than others. Bangladesh is located on a delta and faces various degradation have been major environmental problems that have adverse impacts from climate change, including on the cur- diminished sustainable forest use and caused a significant loss rently stressed forest sector. A major portion of forested land in of biodiversity, including the extinction of both flora and faunal Bangladesh is situated within the coastal region. The world’s species. This loss of biodiversity is the sixth largest species loss largest single mangrove area, identified as “the Sundarbans”, is in the earth’s history (Leakey & Lewin, 1995; Pimm & Brooks, a biodiversity hot spot with one of the richest gene pools in the 2000). Additionally, global warming is magnifying these envi- world, but it is directly under threat from sea level rise under ronmental threats for the forest. Now that it has become a various scenarios of climate change (Ali, 1999). Climate chan- global issue in political discourse, forest issues are no longer a ge’s impact on agriculture and the hydrological system will also concern of individual nations. Despite several global initiatives pose an indirect anthropogenic threat to the existing natural such as FSC, IPF and UNFF, the forest sector did not reach its forest of Bangladesh (Huq et al., 1999). Because of the issue’s goal of a united global forest regime or policy. However, in immense scope, it involves a diverse group of stakeholders at 2008, the forestry sector did find a niche within the already different political levels both nationally and globally. These di- existent climate change regime, and a significant step was made verse stakeholders utilize the media as a platform to spread for establishing a global forest regime within the climate their viewpoints with the purpose of exerting influence on en- change regime (Levin et al., 2008). This new global forest and vironmental politics and public opinion; simultaneously, the climate regime (Levin et al., 2008) has contributed to the emer- media assists in the aggregation of interests within the political gence of a forest and climate discourse in the scientific and process, providing a channel for communication and facilitating political arenas at both the global and national levels. the revision of shared goals and policies (Curran, 2002). To There has been rigorous discussion at the international level some extent, the media performs these functions for the public on creating global initiative to tackle forest climate issue but sphere because it provides more open access to various actors there has also long been a national perspective to the forest and (Kleinschmit, 2012). The mass media also plays a crucial role Copyright © 2013 SciRes. 1 MD. N. SADATH ET AL. in mediating the process of public deliberation and in the diffu- and every media outlet is very careful to satisfy their audience sion concerns and opinions (Hardt, 2004). In today’s modern or readership; thus, the framing of similar issues (Gerhards, complex democratic society, the media is one of the most im- 1994; Boykoff & Boykoff, 2004) may be different in the print portant sources of information for individuals other than elec- media at the international level when compared to the national tions and opinion polls; thus, the media reflects the public print media. Therefore, this study’s first hypothesis as follows: opinion (Kleinschmit & Krott, 2008). The media has an impor- “The media actively frames forest and climate change issues. tant place in both the national and international political level, Therefore, how the issue is presented depends on the media; as it provides the place where different actors build on their hence, the framing of national media is different than that of arguments with the interest of legitimizing their policies or international media.” decisions. By keeping in mind the accelerating political issue of climate change and forests in Bangladesh and the active politi- National and International Media cal role of the media in forest policy, the study investigates how the media has reported on climate change and the forest issue This study’s objective is to analyse the difference in media since its first mention in the late 80s and early 90s. The com- discourse at both the international and national levels; therefore, parison between the national and international levels of media it is imperative to explain the globalization of the media. Al- is of special interest. Finally, if we find differences between the though the media is highly recognized as a driving force of media, we will look for explanations. Given this background, globalization (Kleinschmit & Krott, 2008), the literature on the international or global media lacks a common definition. Many the following section will organize the research question into scholars refer to the international media within a technical con- three hypotheses guiding the empirical media analysis. text, e.g., new communications technologies or multi-national media industries (Held et al., 1999). In regard to the topics on Theoretical Framework and Hypotheses which international media reports, the definitions become more Media Discourse and the Framing of the Forest and abstract, referring to the scope and composition of the audience Climate Issue (McQuail, 2010). We follow the definition of Reese (2010), stating that trans- or international media are those who can ob- Discourse is a social construction of reality; that is, discourse tain news from transnational boundary sources and can address produces a specific picture of the issue of forest and climate a wider audience beyond national boundaries, such as the “In- change (Fairclough, 1995). Keller (1997) approaches discourse ternational Herald Tribune” or the “Financial Times” (Reese, as a specific content that is a thematically institutionalized form 2010). In contrast, national media such as “The Daily Ittefaq” of text production, comprising public discussions on certain of Bangladesh is characterized by content with respect to lan- political and/or environmental issues delivered through the me- guage and substance, which provides the public sphere with a dia where the conversation and exchange of opinion between national perspective on Bangladesh (Rahman, 2010). In recent relevant actors has occurred. In this study, the forest and cli- years, he international and national media have shifted their mate media discourse is understood as the communication focus from more local and regional environmental issues to about
Recommended publications
  • Narrative Policy Framework : the Role of Media Narrative Towards Forest and Land Fire Policy in Indonesia
    Narrative Policy Framework : The Role Of Media Narrative Towards Forest And Land Fire Policy In Indonesia Dia Meirina Suri1,2 Achmad Nurmandi1 Zuly Qodir1 Faris Al Fadhat1 1 Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta 2 Universitas Islam Riau * Correspondence Author : [email protected] Abstract This research discusses the role of the media narrative in controlling forest fires. The research focuses on the land and forest fires that occurred in three districts in the Riau Province of Indonesia using the Narrative Policy Framework. It focuses on the elements of policy problems and solutions and characters (criminals, heroes, and victims), as well as the role of media narratives in the policymaking process. Data analysis was conducted qualitatively using the Nvivo 12 plus application. The Capture feature is used to collect data from three popular and trusted online media. Although many studies focused on forest and land fires, this research examines media narratives on forest and land fire policies. The results showed that the media narratives influenced forest and land control policies, that there is a role played by various actors involved in forest and land fire control issues, the character of criminals found in governments, communities, and companies, hero characters are drawn in the roles performed by firefighters, governments, communities, and companies while the victims in a forest and land fires are communities and companies. So far policymakers have only processed a small portion of information relevant to the problem, should they limit their attention and focus on the solutions that will be produced by ignoring political pressures, the narrative can be an effective means of achieving that.
    [Show full text]
  • All Summer Long 1St Edition PDF Book
    ALL SUMMER LONG 1ST EDITION PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Dorothea Benton Frank | 9780062390769 | | | | | All Summer Long 1st edition PDF Book Friend Reviews. I wish I could remember more! Tracy Brown. October Learn how and when to remove this template message. More information about this seller Contact this seller 4. Related Articles. Jun 14, Hazel Stay Bookish rated it really liked it Shelves: graphic-novel. Also refreshing is the ethnic ambiguity and the wide range of the characters' age, race, and orientation that surround Bina. I liked how Bina begins defining who she is music was a big part of this , without Austin. US Adult Contemporary Billboard [31]. Wikiquote has quotations related to: All Summer Long album. I don't buy into the idea that art is like therapy, but it is a way of taking the things happening in my own life and immortalizing them — at least until the book goes out of print. Italy FIMI [19]. In the rest of Europe, the song was available as a physical and digital release and it has also topped the charts in Ireland, Austria, Germany and Switzerland. IFPI Austria. I don't know, because this is the only way I can make sense of the world. This was a cute and fast read. Its not a lesson she has to learn. October 10, February 4 — May 19, Not exactly a full blown teenager but no longer a little girl she takes a few Hope Larson realizes all the hopes I had for her and then some since my wonderful experience reading her adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel which remains the single best graphic adaptation of a novel I've come across with her new book All Summer Long.
    [Show full text]
  • Forest Service Handbook National Headquarters (Wo) Washington, Dc
    2309.12 – zero codes Page 1 of 28 FOREST SERVICE HANDBOOK NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS (WO) WASHINGTON, DC FSH 2309.12 – HERITAGE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT ZERO CODES Amendment No.: The Directive Manager completes this field. Effective Date: The Directive Manager completes this field. Duration: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed. Approved: NAME OF APPROVING OFFICIAL Date Approved: mm/dd/yyyy Title of Approving Official Posting Instructions: Amendments are numbered consecutively by Handbook number and calendar year. Post by document; remove the entire document and replace it with this amendment. Retain this transmittal as the first page(s) of this document. The last amendment to this Handbook was xx09.xx-xx-x to xxxxx. New Document xx Pages Superseded Document(s) by xx Pages Issuance Number and Effective Date Digest: In order by code, summarize the main additions, revisions, or removal of direction incorporated in this amendment. xxxx - WO AMENDMENT 2309.12 – zero codes EFFECTIVE DATE: Page 2 of 28 DURATION: This amendment is effective until superseded or removed. FSH 2309.12 – HERITAGE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT ZERO CODES TABLE OF CONTENTS 01 – AUTHORITY ........................................................................................................... 3 04 – RESPONSIBILITY .................................................................................................. 4 04.1 – Heritage Professionals ..................................................................................................... 4 04.11 – National Heritage
    [Show full text]
  • Van Tate a Gentle Giant in a Media Forest New Mexico Office of African American Affairs
    NEW MEXICO OFFICE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN AFFAIRS FOCUS VOLUME 7 ISSUE 2 SUMMER 2016 Van Tate a Gentle Giant in a Media Forest New Mexico Office of African American Affairs Staff Directory Yvette Kaufman-Bell Executive Director Office: (505) 383-6221 Cell: (505) 690-4990 [email protected] Nicole Byrd Deputy Director Office staff members from (l-r), Beverly Jordan, Office: (505) 383-6219 Yvette Kaufman-Bell, Nicole Byrd, and Caleb Crump Cell: (505) 221-9171 [email protected] Beverly Jordan Education Outreach Coordinator Contact us: Office: (505) 383-6220 Cell: (505) 221-9016 New Mexico Office of [email protected] African American Affairs Caleb Crump Economics Outreach Coordinator Office: (505) 383-6216 310 San Pedro Dr. NE Suite 230 Cell: (505) 205-0797 [email protected] Albuquerque, NM 87108 1-866-747-6935 Toll-Free (505) 383-6222 (OAAA) (505) 383-6214 Fax website: www.oaaa.state.nm.us www.oaaa.state.nm.us 2 Table of Contents Director’s Message•••4 Black History Challenging the Landscape of Local Publication Staff Theaters to Recognize Talents in the Black Community•••5 2016 Women’s Empowerment Summit•••6 Publish Layout & Design Van Tate a Gentle Giant in a Media Forest•••8 Ron Wallace OAAA Recognizes Santa Fe’s Heroes•••10 Dominance, Surprise, and Courage Highlights 2016 Editor State Track and Field Competition•••12 Delphine Dallas Conrad James Retires After a Committed Time of Service•••14 Menaul School Recognizes a Shining Example of Success•••15 Contributors of Articles and Naomi Germain Made the State of New Mexico Proud•••15 Photos for this issue OAAA 90-Day Healthy Body Challenge•••16 New Mexico Senior Olympics Star’s New Beginning at Age 88•••18 Carolyn Peeler, Alamogordo, NM Three Tiers of Success: Travel, Family, Passion•••19 Elizabeth Sanchez, Albuquerque, NM Ariel, Your Word to Spell is ‘Numismatics’•••20 Erica Crump, Albuquerque, NM A New Mexico Icon•••21 Eugene Byerly, Albuquerque, NM Congratulations Mrs.
    [Show full text]
  • Factors Affecting Social Media Adoption
    Forest Products Industry in a Digital Age: Factors Affecting Social Media Adoption Kathryn Gazal Iris Montague Rajendra Poudel Jan Wiedenbeck Abstract The use of social media as a marketing tool has increased significantly in recent years. However, limited information is available regarding social media use in the US forest products industry or social media adoption at the organizational level, especially within the business-to-business context. This study presents part two of a two-part series of articles that look at the forest products industry in the digital age. A mail survey was conducted in 2013 to examine factors affecting the use of social media in the US forest products industry. This article also looks at the perception of forest products companies regarding social media effectiveness and identifies challenges faced by the forest products companies regarding social media use. Results show that close to 58 percent of respondents currently use some form of social media. The most common social media tool implemented was Facebook. Respondents’ adoption of social media was influenced by company age, net sales revenue, product type, Web site content, perceived importance of e-commerce, and perceived ease of use of social media as a marketing tool. About 94 percent of the respondents thought that social media was an effective tool for marketing. Although no major concerns were expressed regarding the use of social media, there was some concern about generating the return on investment to cover the costs associated with social media use. The information collected from this study can be used in assisting the forest products industry in understanding the world of social media marketing and developing an effective social media marketing strategy.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Idan Raichel Biography
    IDAN RAICHEL Biography Brief Idan Raichel – producer, keyboardist, lyricist, composer and performer. During a career spanning a mere 17 years, Idan has become not only one of the most successful artists in Israel but also one of Israel’s leading music ambassadors abroad, with tours which included performances at some of the leading festivals as well as shows in the most prestigious venues, such as New York's Central Park Summer Stage, Apollo Theater, Town Hall and Radio City Music Hall, Los Angeles’s Kodak Theater, the Sydney Opera House, Zenith in Paris, London’s Royal Albert Hall and Vienna’s Musikverein Concert Hall. audiences from a variety of cultures across Europe, in South & Central America, in Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Ethiopia, South Africa, Ghana, and Japan – and the list goes on. In addition, Idan has entered into exciting collaborations with many great artists, including American pop stars India.Arie and Alicia Keys, and artists who are household names in their own countries, such as Portugal's Ana Moura, Celentano, the Iranian singer Golazin, and Mali's Vieux Farka Touré. Over the years, Idan has become an ambassador representing a world of hope in which artistic collaboration breaks down barriers between people of different backgrounds and beliefs. In the albums he has produced to-date with The Project, as well as in the other artistic ventures with combined with lyrics in a variety of languages including Arabic, German, Spanish, Amharic, French and Hebrew, which worked its way into being part of the Israeli mainstream as well as into the hearts of the general public in Israel and overseas.
    [Show full text]
  • Media and Information Literacyand Intercultural Dialogue
    MILID Yearbook 2013 A Collaboration between UNITWIN Cooperation Programme on Media and Information Literacy and Intercultural Dialogue and NORDICOM Media and Information Literacy and Intercultural Dialogue Edited by Ulla Carlsson & Sherri Hope Culver Autonomous University of Barcelona, University of São Paulo, Tsinghua University, Cairo University, Temple University, University of the West Indies, Queensland University of Technology, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University The International Clearinghouse on Children, Youth and Media The International Clearinghouse The International Clearinghouse on Children, on Children, Youth and Media Youth and Media, at A UNESCO INITIATIVE 1997 Nordicom University of Gothenburg Box 713 In 1997, the Nordic Information Centre for Media and SE 405 30 GÖTEBORG, Sweden Communication Research (Nordicom), University Web site: of Gothenburg, Sweden, began establishment of www.nordicom.gu.se/clearinghouse the International Clearinghouse on Children, Youth DIRECTOR: Ulla Carlsson and Media. The overall point of departure for the Clearinghouse’s efforts with respect to children, youth SCIENTIFIC CO-ORDINATOR: Maria Edström and media is the UN Convention on the Rights of the Telephone: +46 31 786 66 40 Child. Fax: +46 31 786 46 55 The aim of the Clearinghouse is to increase [email protected] awareness and knowledge about children, youth and INFORMATION CO-ORDINATOR: media, thereby providing a basis for relevant policy- Catharina Bucht making, contributing to a constructive public debate, Tel: +46 31 786 49 53 Fax: +46 31 786 46 55 and enhancing children’s and young people’s media [email protected] literacy and media competence. Moreover, it is hoped that the Clearinghouse’s work will stimulate further research on children, youth and media.
    [Show full text]
  • Books Fall 2017
    The MIT Press Fall 2017 The MIT Press TRADE history | technology The Chinese Typewriter A History Thomas S. Mullaney Chinese writing is character based, the one major world script that is neither alphabetic nor syllabic. Through the years, the Chinese written language encountered presumed alphabetic universalism in the form of Morse Code, Braille, stenography, Linotype, punch cards, word processing, and other systems developed with the Latin alphabet in mind. This book is about those encounters—in particular thousands of Chinese characters versus the typewriter and its QWERTY keyboard. Thomas Mullaney describes a fascinating series of experiments, prototypes, failures, and suc- cesses in the century-long quest for a workable Chinese typewriter. The earliest Chinese typewriters, Mullaney tells us, were figments of popular imagination, sensational accounts of twelve-foot keyboards with 5,000 keys. One of the first Chinese typewriters actually constructed was invented by a Christian missionary, who organized characters by common usage (but promoted the less-common characters for “Jesus” to the common usage level). Later came typewriters manufactured for use in Chinese offices, and typewriting schools that turned out trained “typewriter girls” and “typewriter boys.” Still later was the “Double Pigeon” typewriter produced by the Shanghai Calculator and Typewriter Factory, the typewriter of choice under Mao. Clerks and secretaries in this era experimented with alternative ways of organizing characters on their tray beds, inventing an input method that was the first instance of How Chinese characters “predictive text.” triumphed over the QWERTY Today, after more than a century of resistance against the alphabetic, keyboard and laid the not only have Chinese characters prevailed, they form the linguistic foundation for China’s substrate of the vibrant world of Chinese information technology.
    [Show full text]
  • Decision Notice and FONSI for Travel Management on the Jicarilla Ranger District
    Decision Notice and United States Finding of No Department of Agriculture Forest Significant Impact Service Southwestern Region Travel Management on the Jicarilla Ranger District Carson National Forest The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Printed on recycled paper – August 2010 Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact for Travel Management on the Jicarilla Ranger District Carson National Forest Rio Arriba County Figure 1. Jicarilla Ranger District, Carson National Forest and current system of roads open for public motor vehicle use Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact Travel Management on the Jicarilla Ranger District U.S.D.A. Forest Service Southwestern Region Carson National Forest, Jicarilla Ranger District Rio Arriba County, New Mexico Background On November 9, 2005, the Forest Service published the final regulations governing off-highway vehicles (OHVs) and other motor vehicle use on national forests and grasslands (Travel Management; Designated, Routes and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use, Federal Register/Vol.
    [Show full text]
  • Eminem the Complete Guide
    Eminem The Complete Guide PDF generated using the open source mwlib toolkit. See http://code.pediapress.com/ for more information. PDF generated at: Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:41:34 UTC Contents Articles Overview 1 Eminem 1 Eminem discography 28 Eminem production discography 57 List of awards and nominations received by Eminem 70 Studio albums 87 Infinite 87 The Slim Shady LP 89 The Marshall Mathers LP 94 The Eminem Show 107 Encore 118 Relapse 127 Recovery 145 Compilation albums 162 Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture 8 Mile 162 Curtain Call: The Hits 167 Eminem Presents: The Re-Up 174 Miscellaneous releases 180 The Slim Shady EP 180 Straight from the Lab 182 The Singles 184 Hell: The Sequel 188 Singles 197 "Just Don't Give a Fuck" 197 "My Name Is" 199 "Guilty Conscience" 203 "Nuttin' to Do" 207 "The Real Slim Shady" 209 "The Way I Am" 217 "Stan" 221 "Without Me" 228 "Cleanin' Out My Closet" 234 "Lose Yourself" 239 "Superman" 248 "Sing for the Moment" 250 "Business" 253 "Just Lose It" 256 "Encore" 261 "Like Toy Soldiers" 264 "Mockingbird" 268 "Ass Like That" 271 "When I'm Gone" 273 "Shake That" 277 "You Don't Know" 280 "Crack a Bottle" 283 "We Made You" 288 "3 a.m." 293 "Old Time's Sake" 297 "Beautiful" 299 "Hell Breaks Loose" 304 "Elevator" 306 "Not Afraid" 308 "Love the Way You Lie" 324 "No Love" 348 "Fast Lane" 356 "Lighters" 361 Collaborative songs 371 "Dead Wrong" 371 "Forgot About Dre" 373 "Renegade" 376 "One Day at a Time (Em's Version)" 377 "Welcome 2 Detroit" 379 "Smack That" 381 "Touchdown" 386 "Forever" 388 "Drop the World"
    [Show full text]
  • Arizona's Forest Health
    Over 17 million acres surveyed by air 81,000 acres of bark beetle-caused tree mortality Photo credit, Aly McAlexander, DFFM Forest Health Specialist ARIZONA FOREST HEALTH CONDITIONS 2020 15,000 acres of tree damage from sap A publication by the Forest Health Program of the Arizona feeders Department of Forestry and Fire Management Arizona has an incredibly diverse landscape. From the lower Sonoran desert scrub and pinyon-juniper woodland to the high elevation spruce- fir forests. Forests cover approximately 27% of the state, which is over 19 million acres. These forests are comprised of 37 species of coniferous and hardwood trees. The majority of forestland is located above the Mogollon Rim. Juniper (Juniperus spp.) and pinyon juniper (Pinus edulis‐Juniperus spp.) woodlands are the most abundant forest type in 13,000 acres of tree Arizona, occupying approximately 14.8 million acres, or 20.3% of the state. The rarest and most significant in ecological terms is riparian damage from forest, which occupies less than one‐half of 1% of Arizona’s land. defoliators In urban areas, we experience urban forests that are typically composed of a mix of native and introduced tree species that require various management techniques. These urban forests are inhabited by nearly 90% of Arizona’s residents and provide numerous environmental, economic and social benefits. With such a broad diversity of forests comes a diverse group of insects and diseases; from native and non-native pine engraver beetles to introduced fungal pathogens such as white pine blister rust. This report includes information on the insects and diseases having significant impact on Arizona’s forested landscapes.
    [Show full text]
  • Forest Health Conditions Report 2015
    Douglas A. Ducey Office of the State Forester Governor Arizona State Forestry 1110 W. Washington St., Suite 100 Jeff Whitney Phoenix, AZ 85007 State Forester (602) 771-1400 2015 FOREST HEALTH CONDITIONS REPORT STATE AND PRIVATE LANDS The dramatic expansion of non-native invasive plants had the greatest impact to forest and woodland health in 2015. Likely generated by the three consecutive wet monsoons, mainly thistles and knapweeds spread widely throughout the Flagstaff area, by the Little Colorado River in Greer, and in the communities of Pine-Strawberry. Large populations of Scotch and Musk thistle and Diffuse and Spotted Knapweed were identified in summer throughout Flagstaff, Kachina Village, Black Bill Park, Fort Valley, Bellemont and further south at the Mund’s Park interchange. Non-native Invasive Plants Scotch Thistle-Flagstaff Knapweed-Kachina Village Scotch Thistle-KachinaVillage An estimated eleven acres of Musk thistle was noted in late July, at the entrance to Greer along the Little Colorado River, and plants were traced all the way down to Eagar. A new pocket of Scotch thistle was identified in Strawberry in July, and Musk thistle first identified in 2011 in the community continued to spread. Scotch thistle identified in Pine in 2012 has also dispersed along Pine Creek. Musk Thistle-Greer Musk Thistle Scotch Thistle-Strawberry An assortment of defoliating insects was reported in 2015, and may have been tied to increased survival following another mild winter. The inexorable spread of pinyon needle scale, a native defoliating insect in the pinyon-juniper woodlands, continued in the state in two new areas in 2015.
    [Show full text]