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INFORMATION SHEET
JULY 27, 2006
The Forest Land Enhancement Program can help forest owners address Sirex Woodwasp concerns
Sirex noctillio, a European Woodwasp, is an invasive insect has been discovered this year in at least ten central and western New York counties. Sirex Woodwasp infests various species of pines which generally results in tree mortality. Unhealthy, stressed trees growing in overcrowded conditions are much more prone to infestation, damage and mortality. The female Woodwasp chooses unhealthy pines, injecting a toxic mucous and symbiotic fungus, when laying their eggs. The fungus and toxins working together can kill trees in a short period of time, creating a suitable environment for larval development.
The Sirex Woodwasp is known to attack many species worldwide including white, red, Scotch, Austrian, loblolly, Monterey, jack, slash and shortleaf pines. White, red and Scotch pine have been planted extensively while white and red pine are common components of natural forests in New York.
Healthy, fast growing, well managed pines are more capable of resisting Woodwasp infestation. Forest management actions around the world to address Sirex Woodwasp concern have included non-commercial thinning as well as commercial selection harvesting of pine stands removing stressed, overcrowded and unhealthy trees, retaining healthy dominant trees.
Professional Foresters can help private forest owners to identify areas of pines and can recommend cutting activities to remove unhealthy trees, while retaining dominant trees that are better able to resist Woodwasp infestation. A forester will rely upon a science based guide to determine the number and types of trees to be retained in a thinning to enhance the overall health of the stand.
In many cases the resulting cut material will not have a market value for use as either fiber (pulpwood or fuel chips) or logs. This thinning work may involve a cost to the landowner when cut trees have no commercial value in the market place.
The Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP) can help landowners in this situation. FLEP is administered by the Department of Environmental Conservation for the US Forest Service, in cooperation with the New York Forest Owners Association. FLEP provides financial assistance to offset a portion of the costs associated with the implementation of sustainable forestry practices on private forest land. The program can provide financial assistance to conduct cultural work to enhance growing conditions in eligible pine stands including the development of a cutting prescription by a professional forester as well as cutting work completed on a non-commercial basis. All work must be done in accordance with a Landowner Forest Stewardship Plan and approved for financial assistance before work is started. Forest Stewardship Plans can be prepared by a DEC Service Forester or landowners may use FLEP financial assistance to cover a portion of the costs associated with private sector professional services to develop such a management plan.
In New York, the State Forester intends to dedicate a portion of available FLEP funding, to support cultural work to address the Sirex Woodwasp concern in the central and western portions of the state. A total of over $46,000 will be available to owners of eligible pine stands situated on high Forest Stewardship potential lands on a first come basis. These monies are available to cover up to 75% of the costs to have professionally developed silvicultural prescriptions prepared and to conduct non-commercial thinning work.
Forest landowners may wish to access the DEC web site for additional information about FLEP at http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dlf/privland/flep/index.html and Sirex Woodwasp at http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dlf/privland/forprot/health/sww.html.
Landowners that desire FLEP financial assistance are encouraged to contact their local DEC forestry office for additional information about FLEP and Sirex Woodwasp. A list of offices and geographic areas they serve is available on the web at http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dlf/lfoffice.html.
Prepared by the Bureau of Private Land Services
Department of Environmental Conservation
July 27, 2006 |
