Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Alaska Department of Natural Resources
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Forest Service
U.S.G.S. Biological Resources Division

Interagency Forest Ecology Study Team - INFEST

About INFEST

The Interagency Forest Ecology Study Team (INFEST) was formed to aid in ensuring integrated management of the forest ecosystem. The impetus for such a team emerged during the mid 1990’s as forest management issues were evolving on the Kenai Peninsula particularly, but not exclusively, related to spruce bark beetle infestations. An interagency team including the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Alaska Department of Natural Resources, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U. S. Forest Service, and U. S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division formed to serve the following purposes:

• Consolidate and disseminate information addressing forest ecology issues appropriate to south-central Alaska.
• Identify, develop, and execute data collection efforts which are responsive to agency management needs.
• Provide a mechanism for cooperative forest ecosystem studies on all ownerships.
• Provide an avenue for transfer of information among land management agencies.

Specific ongoing projects include:

• Creation and dissemination of fact sheets relating to forest ecology and bark beetle biology.
• Development of an expert system to assist land managers with decision making relative to forest management.
• Creation of a detailed land cover/vegetation map of the Kenai Peninsula that is suitable for management, research, and planning applications.
• Provide direction for projects instituted to improve knowledge of bird and mammal populations on the Kenai Peninsula.

Current INFEST members include:

Steve Albert

Position and Employer:
Habitat Biologist;
Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, Division of Sport Fish,
333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage, AK 99518-1599;
e-mail: stevea@fishgame.state.ak.us; phone: 907-267-2146
Education: M.S.
Responsibilities: Evaluate timber harvest activities to ensure that appropriate forest practices are maintained and provide for mitigation of fish and wildlife habitat.

Ed Berg

Position and Employer:
Ecologist;
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge,
P.O. Box 2139, Soldotna, AK 99669;
e-mail: edward_berg@mail.fws.gov; phone: 907-262-7021
Education: Ph.D. in Botany
Responsibilities: Evaluates the role of disturbance agents, such as fire, beetles, and moose, on forest regeneration.

Jerry Boughton

Position and Employer:
Forester;
U. S. Forest Service, State and Private Forestry,
3301 C. St., Anchorage, AK 99503;
e-mail: jboughton/r10_chugach@fs.fed.us; phone: 907-271-2535
Responsibilities: Program leader of forest health management.

Roger Burnside

Position and Employer:
Forest Entomologist/Insect and Disease Forester;
Alaska DNR, Div. of Forestry,
P.O. Box 107005, Anchorage, AK 99510-7005;
e-mail: roger_burnside@dnr.state.ak.us; phone: 907-269-8460
Education: M.S. in Entomology/Plant Pathology, North Dakota State University
Responsibilities: Administers statewide Cooperative Forest Pest Action Program which includes pest surveys, research activities, and recommending management actions.

Bill Collins

Position and Employer:
Research Wildlife Biologist; ;
Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation,
1800 Glenn Hwy., Suite 4, Palmer, AK 99645-6736;
e-mail: wcollins@fishgame.state.ak.us; phone: 907-746-6326
Education: Ph.D. in Range Science, Utah State University
Responsibilities: Conducts research relating to wildlife habitat and habitat enhancement.

Ed Holsten

Position and Employer:
Research Entomologist;
U. S. Forest Service, State and Private Forestry,
3301 C. St., Anchorage, AK 99503;
e-mail: eholsten/r10_chugach@fs.fed.us; phone: 907-271-2573
Education: Ph.D. in Forestry (Entomology), University of Washington
Responsibilities: Conduct research on population dynamics of the spruce beetle, chemical ecology of scolytids, and beetle impacts on non-timber forest resources.

Jim Peterson

Position and Employer:
Area Forester;
Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Foresty,
HC1, Box 107, Soldotna, AK 99669;
e-mail: jsp@alaska.net; phone: 907-262-4124
Education: B.S. in Forestry, Northern Arizona University
Responsibilities: Manage the State of Alaska’s forest resources in the Kenai-Kodiak area; administer state forest practices act; suppress wildland fire.

Tom Stephenson

Position and Employer:
Research Wildlife Biologist;
Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation,
43961 Kalifornsky Beach Rd., Soldotna, AK 99669;
e-mail: tomst@fishgame.state.ak.us; phone: 907-262-9368
Education: Ph.D. in Forestry, Wildlife, and Range Science, University of Idaho
Responsibilities: Conduct research on the nutritional ecology and reproductive physiology of moose and caribou; evaluate relationship between vegetation succession and wildlife habitat.

Lowell Suring

Position and Employer:
Wildlife Biologist;
U. S. Forest Service,
3301 C. St., Anchorage, AK 99503;
e-mail: suring@customcpu.com; phone: 907-271-2836
Education: M.S. in Wildlife Science, Oregon State University
Responsibilities: Evaluate habitat use patterns of wildlife and habitat assessment techniques.

March 1998