The connection between forest
health and urban forestry is apparent in
the management of oak wilt, a serious
disease that kills thousands of trees per
year. The New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)
Forest Health Division has adopted a
rapid response to this disease in order
to prevent the establishment of oak wilt.
This rapid response seeks to prevent
the need to spend millions of dollars a
year to control oak wilt and to prevent
the loss of millions of dollars in oak
wood sales. Management is also critical
to protect the intrinsic, myriad benefits
of trees in urban forests.
Proper management of oak wilt will not
be possible without the collaboration
and cooperation of stakeholders. New
York town officials, green profession-
als, homeowners, and extension offices
O p p o r t u n i t y t o S t o p
t h e Sp r ead o f Oa k W i lt
In this video, Jennifer Kotary demonstrates how to use proper pruning timing to
reduce the spread of oak wilt.
Many diseases create leaf discoloration, but oak wilt leaf discoloration is typically continuous and concentrated along the
edges of the leaf.
have been integral players in detecting and managing oak wilt. Collaboration with
the Town of Islip is a great example of a NY municipality stepping in to properly
dispose of infected materials and to provide outreach when necessary.
By Jennifer Kotary, NYSDEC Division of Lands and Forests-Forest Health Oak Wilt Operations Coordinator
36 CityTREES
