ORIGIN OF RESOLUTION:
Northeastern Area Association of State Foresters

ISSUE OF CONCERN:
Spread of hemlock woolly adelgid.

BACKGROUND:
The hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) currently infests eleven States from Massachusetts to North Carolina. These States have been experiencing an alarming increase in hemlock decline and mortality rates since 1992. There are no native predators to control HWA populations, and at present, there are no practical insecticides available to protect hemlock forests. The USDA Forest Service has been searching for biological control agents for HWA since the early 1990's. Several organisms with potential to control HWA, such as predator beetles and entomopathogenic fungi, are at various stages of evaluation and development.

Research has shown that HWA can be spread quite easily by infested nursery stock. Migratory birds are believed to play a role in the long-range natural spread of HWA. External quarantines to prevent introduction of HWA are in place in Maine, Vermont, New York, and New Hampshire.

Eastern and Carolina Hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis and Tsuga caroliniana) are an important part of many forest ecosystems, in many cases they play and irreplaceable role in certain forest types and settings. Hemlocks are valued by recreational forest users as well. There are more than 270 cultivars of Eastern hemlock, making it one of the most cultivated landscape tree species. There is an urgent and immediate need to find effective methods to manage HWA populations, slow HWA spread, and reduce the potential for short- and long-range spread of this non-native pest.

RESOLUTION:
The National Association of State Foresters urges the USDA Forest Service and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to prepare a strategic plan for HWA management and control, including an appropriate budget, research program, and focus on biological control. The strategic plan should be developed and implemented in consultation with the State Plant Regulatory Officials and the State Foresters from the effected states, as well as the NASF Forest Health Committee.

NASF ACTION:
(X) Approved

DATE OF ACTION: October 4, 2000