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Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center

U.S. Forest Service - Southern Research Station - Asheville, North Carolina
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Welcome to the Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center!

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What's New


EFETAC made progress in a variety of research, science delivery, and partnership efforts during 2011. Read highlights here.

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The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) used EFETAC's Water Supply Stress Index model to study impacts of power plants on US water supplies. Learn more about the UCS research here.

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Conservation Magazine features highlights of a recently published forest fragmentation study led by EFETAC research ecologist Kurt Riitters. Read the Conservation Magazine article here.  

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The Template for Assessing Climate Change Impacts and Management Options (TACCIMO) now contains 1,000 effects of climate change. New features and expanded content are available here.

taccimo v2.0


EFETAC scientists and cooperators produce annual Forest Health Monitoring national reports. Draft versions of recent reports are now available.

forest health monitoring: 2006 national technical report


EFETAC scientists are contributing chapters on ecological and economic vulnerability and risk, water quality and quantity, and invasive species to the Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Management Options (CCAMMO) project. Click here to learn more.

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EFETAC is headquartered with the Southern Research Station in Asheville, NC.Eastern forests are vulnerable to stresses from insects and disease, wildland loss, invasive species, uncharacteristic fire, and climate change. As new threats emerge and old threats resurface, the Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center (EFETAC) is an interdisciplinary resource that is actively developing new technology and tools to anticipate and respond to emerging eastern forest threats. Center researchers work with other scientists nationally as well as with a variety of Federal, State, and local government agencies, universities, and non-governmental partners to address these threats. More...


Message from the Director...
Dr. Danny C. Lee


Dr. Danny C. Lee, EFETAC DirectorWelcome to the Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center’s Web site – a resource for cutting edge research, technology, and tools addressing emerging forest threats. Our site is intended to be a user-friendly, reliable, and timely source of information for anyone interested in environmental threats.

EFETAC is addressing a variety of complex issues that demand cross-disciplinary integration, collaboration, and creativity. Our work complements ongoing efforts within and outside the Forest Service and builds on a wealth of existing information. Our scientists collaborate with an extensive national and international research community and focus on research that is relevant to rural and urban forest threat issues. More...



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Featured Forest Threat


Chinese Silvergrass (Miscanthus sinensis)

Chinese silvergrass, native to China, Japan, and Korea, has been widely sold and planted as an ornamental in the U.S.

Chinese silvergrass - Photo by James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.orgWhat is Chinese silvergrass? Chinese silvergrass is a highly variable robust perennial grass. It can grow to 5 to 10 ft. in height and is usually found in large tufts. Branches are very flexible and spreading or drooping. Elongate leaves can measure 3 ft. in length and 1 in. across and have a silver white midrib. Tips of the leaves are sharp and re-curving. The fan-shaped terminal panicle, which reaches full maturity in fall, is 6 to 24 in. long, silvery to pale pink in color, with erect or ascending branches.

How does it spread? Seeds produced September through January may be dispersed mechanically or through wind. Chinese silvergrass also reproduces through rhizomes. It prefers full sun and moist, rich, well drained soil, and can tolerate slight droughts once plants are established. It tolerates cold climates, but does not grow well in hot, humid southern climates.

Why is Chinese silvergrass a concern?  Chinese silvergrass has escaped from older ornamental plantings. It has been located along disturbed areas that have been burned or cut, and it forms extensive infestations along roadsides, forest margins, and disturbed sites. It is highly flammable and a fire hazard.


Source: USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area Forest Health Protection's Weed of the Week

Photo by James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org


Visit the Forest Threat Summary Viewer for more information about this and other forest threats.

 
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