Stewardship Means Protecting our Native Trees
Have you got a favorite tree?
I am blown away by the Eastern Hemlock - Tsuga canadensis
To me hemlock trees epitomize the eastern forest and currently account for approximately 10 percent of the Adirondack forest!
One of our primary trails is the Hemlock Hill Loop in Baker Woods Preserve North which features a large stand of mature hemlocks. Their pyramidal shape, irregular crown and lacy branches, combined with winter snow, are an inspiration.
Unfortunately, hemlocks are under attack. The hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) (Adelges tsugae), a small aphid-like insect native to Asia, is now threatening eastern hemlock trees by feeding on hemlock tree sap which weakens the host tree and leads to tree mortality. On the bright side, HWA has not yet reached Lewis Co. Several organizations are monitoring its progression and devising ways to help protect our hemlocks and monitor a wide variety of other invasive species.
If you would like to help protect our hemlocks by monitoring for HWA infestations, our very own SLELO PRISM (The St. Lawrence – Eastern Lake Ontario Partnership For Regional Invasive Species Management) is a great option. They work to detect, prevent and control invasive species such as HWA.
Excellent training options to detect, map and report HWA are offered around the region by SLELO PRISM. These opportunities will inspire you to get out in the field and participate in real citizen science.
I encourage you to check out our local PRISM and a guide sheet from the NYS Hemlock Initiative below:
November through April (late fall to early spring) is the ideal time to monitor for HWA as it lessens the chance that monitors could inadvertently spread HWA.
-Matt, Linda and the BWP Stewardship Team
Checking for HWA on the underside of hemlock branches. They appear as tiny cotton like masses at the base of needles.