A field mission to the United States for Mongolian forest health professionals, organized under the "Healthy Forest" project, took place from August 11-20, 2024, with the support of the International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF) and its International Conservation Corps program.
The purpose of the trip was to observe the National Forest Health Monitoring (HFM) system in Colorado, USA, which has been instrumental in maintaining a long-term overview of forest health in the United States and exploring how similar programs could be implemented in Mongolia. The U.S. program uses an established system to perform statistical analysis and report results, which are used to inform the public and guide management decisions for foresters, entomologists, and pathologists.
The Mongolian professionals first visited Denver, where the Regional Office provided an overview of the National Forest Health Monitoring program. They then traveled to Fort Collins, home to Colorado State University and the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Health Assessment and Applied Science Team (FHAAST). This group is responsible for developing innovative methods of forest health monitoring and assessment. At Colorado State University, the delegation met with the Forestry Department, where research on entomology and pathology is conducted, and where both undergraduate and graduate students are trained. Fort Collins is also home to the state nursery, which produces a large number of seedlings for reforestation efforts.
These activities provided valuable insights for the Mongolian delegation, who will now prepare recommendations based on their observations for improving Mongolia's forest health program.
Regional Headquarters