Environmental Health

OSU Extension works with partners to fight emerald ash borer

The emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive beetle that infests and kills ash trees. It was first detected in Oregon on June 30, 2022, in Forest Grove, marking its arrival on the West Coast. EAB poses a significant threat...

Feb 2025 | Impact Story

OSU Extension helps Oregon’s woodland owners manage their land

Oregon has approximately 44,000 private woodland owners who own 10 or more acres of forestland who collectively manage about 3.3 million acres of forest, according to the Oregon Forest Resources Institute. This represents a ...

Feb 2025 | Impact Story

OSU study identifies key factors in Douglas-Fir decline in Klamath Mountains and provides management solutions

Douglas-fir is among the world’s most economically important tree species and is abundant across southwestern Oregon, where it is the dominant species in many low to mid-elevation forests. Douglas-fir trees provide vital wildlife ...

Jan 2025 | Impact Story

Dormant-season grazing research project reduces fine fuels in Malheur County

Invasive grasses, or "fine fuels," contribute significantly to wildfires and threaten the unique biodiversity of the Northern Great Basin, where Malheur County is located. These grasses out-compete native plants and increase wildfire ...

Jan 2025 | Impact Story

OSU study identifies optimal forest management practices for carbon sequestration

Forest managers in the Pacific Northwest face the challenge of balancing timber harvests with maximizing above-ground carbon sequestration, a critical factor in combating climate change. The carbon stored in U.S. forests offsets 13% ...

Jan 2025 | Impact Story

OSU research enhances landslide hazard assessment following wildfire

Landslides, often triggered by extreme events such as heavy precipitation, wildfires and earthquakes, pose significant environmental, societal and economic risks. In the mountainous, forested terrain of the West, including Oregon, shallow...

Dec 2024 | Impact Story

New online tools simplify native bee identification in Pacific Northwest

Bees and other animal pollinators enhance the reproduction of nearly 90% of the Earth’s wild flowering plants, in addition to many food crops, and are an essential component of biodiversity. However, identifying native bees, ...

Dec 2024 | Impact Story

OSU inspires Oregonians to become successful beekeepers

As people increasingly recognize the vital role honeybees play in pollinating key crops, there's a growing interest in raising them in backyards. To support this enthusiasm, the Oregon State University Extension Service launched the...

Dec 2024 | Impact Story

Using science to inform policy for a wildfire-adapted Oregon

In response to longer and more severe wildfire seasons, a growing population living in the wildland-urban interface and the extensive impacts of the 2020 Labor Day fires, the Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 762 in 2021, ...

Sep 2024 | Impact Story

OSU Extension Fire Program fosters place-based partnerships

As a land grant university, Oregon State University takes research and innovation out of the labs and puts them into practice in the communities and landscapes around the state through Extension programs. While OSU’s influence ...

Aug 2024 | Impact Story