KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) New Hampshire’s forests face a mix of challenges from drought and invasive pests, UNH Extension Forestry Specialist and Extension Forester Steve Roberge told listeners during his appearance Tuesday morning on Good Morning with Dan Mitchell on WKBK radio.

Roberge, the longtime UNH Extension forester and former county forester for the Keene area, focused on topics from the early signs of fall foliage to the serious ecological threats facing the state’s trees.

“The drought we’re experiencing is another stress trees have to contend with,” Roberge said, explaining that lack of rainfall could cause leaves to turn earlier, though the colors may still be strong.

A major portion of the interview centered on invasive diseases and insects, including Beech Leaf Disease, which threatens wildlife food supplies, and Emerald Ash Borer, which has killed thousands of ash trees statewide. Roberge described how biological controls, such as releasing predatory wasps and beetles, are now being used to curb pest populations over the long term.

“It’s not just one thing that kills a tree,” Roberge noted. “It’s a series of compounding factors that team up on it… and drought is just one more stress.”

Listeners called in with questions about everything from hemlock hedges to wildfire safety. Roberge emphasized that public awareness plays a critical role in forest health, especially when it comes to not transporting firewood across regions — one of the fastest ways to spread invasive insects.

He also pointed to Red Pine Scale, which has affected plantings at places like Keene’s Wheelock Park, as an example of why diversity in replanting is crucial. “It’s never good to have one species across a landscape,” he said. “Diversity is really important in our forest.”

Roberge’s appearance highlighted both the immediate and long-term issues facing New Hampshire’s woodlands, while underscoring the resilience strategies built into forest ecosystems.