Diseases
Diseases of forest trees are injurious conditions,
often expressed by the abnormal growth or development of trees and
caused by agents other than fire or insects. Diseases include disorders
that reduce growth, lower wood quality, and cause predisposition
to attack by other agents, or culminate in the death of the trees.
Tree diseases are a natural and important part of a healthy, functioning
forest ecosystem. Those that cause mortality can act as natural
thinning agents contributing to a shift from high density young
stands to more widely spaced mature stands. Decay fungi contribute
to the decomposition of dead wood material, a process that often
starts when trees are mature and are still standing. Although decay
in standing trees is undesirable from a wood production perspective,
such decay provides valuable habitat for forest birds and animals,
contributing to ecological diversity.
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