In article ,
Andrew Barss wrote:

Nope. There are at least two other major problems: Asian longhorn beetles,
which threaten all the maples and some other hardwoods, have infested
Central Park and a number of other places. If they spread widely, goodby
maple syrup and lumber.

And there's a blight affecting oaks in the West called sudden oak
death, caused by a fungus. It's already killed many thousands of trees.

There is (or was just a couple years ago) a wide-spread Dogwood blight
in the southeast. Plus, currently a Pine Bark Beetle infestation in the
Ponderosas of the southwest.

I think much of this has to do with the hand of man. Areas have
experienced notable changes in climate with certain diseases and
parasites flourishing. Then consider that nature's cleansing method of
fire has been, and will be, severely inhibited. Under these
circumstances, the course of a disease or infestation may be the
regional loss of the host tree species. In my opinion, these die-offs
will continue for quite some time with new ones cropping up fairly
frequently.
--
Owen Lowe
The Fly-by-Night Copper Company
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