KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) The City of Keene is hosting a community Zoom presentation tonight from 6 to 6:30 p.m. to discuss the city’s ongoing efforts to manage red pine scale, an invasive insect threatening Keene’s red pine trees.

The 30-minute session will feature Keene Parks and Recreation staff alongside forestry experts from the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands and the UNH Cooperative Extension. Participants will learn about how red pine scale affects local trees and can ask questions during a live Q&A. Residents can join the meeting by visiting the city’s website and entering the password “RPS.”

Keene Parks and Recreation Director Carrah Fisk-Hennessey has emphasized that the City’s forestry plan is focused on proactive management and transparency. During a recent interview on WKBK Radio’s Good Morning with Dan Mitchell, she explained that harvesting infected trees is the only effective way to control the pest, noting that many of Keene’s red pines — planted after the Hurricane of 1938 — are nearing the end of their natural lifespan.

The city’s tree management plan includes selective harvesting, reforestation with diverse species, and public education. Fisk-Hennessey said the community’s input has already shaped initiatives like the Robin Hood Park renovation and the Goose Pond stewardship program.

The effort also reflects a statewide concern. In a separate interview, UNH Extension Forester Steve Roberge noted that red pine scale has spread across parts of Cheshire County, including Swanzey’s Yale Forest, underscoring the need for diversity in replanting. “It’s never good to have one species across a landscape,” Roberge said.

Keene’s long-term forestry strategy includes a proposed $35,000 assessment to guide future tree management, with support from state and local experts.

Residents can find the Zoom link and more details about tonight’s presentation at keenenh.gov/parks-trails-recreation.