Environment DEC
From the October 2008 issue
NY Experts Help Massachusetts Fight Asian Longhorned Beetle Outbreak
New York State will be sending a team of trained DEC forestry staff to assist Massachusetts in surveying and quantifying the extent of tree and forest damage caused by the invasive insect Asian longhorned beetle (ALB). A large outbreak of ALB has been discovered in Worcester and assistance has been requested to help inventory the extent of the damage and potential threat to surrounding trees.
So far, more than 1,000 ALB-infested trees have been found in the Worcester area. New York's participation will provide Massachusetts with trained professionals knowledgeable in tree identification, the target pest, and landowner interactions. DEC's forestry team will begin going to the Worcester area in early October, with expenses paid for by the United States Forest Service.
A Valuable Learning Opportunity
The new outbreak of Asian longhorned beetle is a reminder for New Yorkers to help prevent the spread of invasive forest pests by following DEC's rules on transporting firewood.
"In addition to helping assess the damages this destructive insect has caused, DEC's foresters view this as a valuable learning opportunity in their ongoing battle against other destructive invasives," DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis said. "This outbreak also serves as a strong reminder of the need for vigilance and proactive steps to close off as many vectors as possible for entry of invasive insect forest pests into New York. On this front, I strongly encourage residents and visitors to help prevent the spread of invasive forest pests in New York by carefully adhering to our 2008 emergency rules against transporting untreated firewood more than 50 miles from its origin."
ALB and many other exotic pests such as the emerald ash borer and sirex wood wasp can unintentionally be transported long distances via human activity-especially the hauling of firewood. To limit this risk, New York prohibits the importation of firewood into the state that has not been heat-treated to eliminate invasive species, fungi and pathogens that can harm New York's trees. The regulations also limit the transportation of untreated firewood within the state to less than 50 miles from its point of origin. More information about this emergency regulation can be found at the Firewood and Invasive Insects web page on DEC's website or by calling 1-866-640-0652.
Returning the Favor
DEC professionals have regularly assisted other states and the federal government in responding to emergencies, including this summer's forest fires in the west and last year's forest insect outbreak in Maryland. In 1996, New York received help from other states in addressing ALB following the discovery of the invasive insect in areas of New York City and Long Island and again in 2007, when a new infestation was discovered on Prall's Island off Staten Island.
Invasive species are viewed by New York officials as akin to "catastrophic wildfires in slow-motion"-equating the wildfires that have plagued western states in recent years to the threats that insects like ALB pose to the environmental, economic, recreational, historic and aesthetic benefits provided by healthy forests.
U.S. Forest Service experts have said the Massachusetts infestation may turn out to be one of the biggest that the federal agency has dealt with to date. Already, the quarantine area exceeds that in New Jersey and is second only to New York's.
