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Mission Statement: "Insect and Disease Control identifies, interprets and
evaluates forest insect and disease conditions and their potential impact on the
Province's forest ecosystem, as well as recommending, developing, implementing
and evaluating preventative or control actions. "
History of Forest Insect Control in Newfoundland
The first aerial insect
control operations to take place in this Province occurred in the late 1960's to
control the Hemlock Looper. Over the past 30 years, a majority of Newfoundland's
mature Balsam Fir stands were also seriously damaged by infestations of Spruce
Budworm as well as Hemlock Looper . The first extensive outbreak of Spruce
Budworm, which began in the early 1970s, was initially not considered a major
threat and the Province reacted by mounting a salvage program. However, road
building and salvaging damaged stands could not keep up with the increasing
impact from the budworm. Aerial control programs were successfully carried out
between 1977 and 1985, and in 1992 against the Spruce Budworm, and between 1985
to 1990 against the Hemlock Looper. These efforts combined with weather and
natural agents contributed to the collapse of this major outbreak.
In 1980, government established a Royal Commission on Forest
Protection and Management whose mandate included a review of all aspects of
Spruce Budworm infestation and possible control measures. A key recommendation
of the Commission stated that control action be undertaken to protect the
forest. Since then, the forest protection program in Newfoundland and Labrador has
consisted of a combination of both aerial spray programs on the basis of
necessity for pest control, combined with a broader range of management
techniques. Forest management plans have been modified to incorporate the
requirements of the insect control strategy, which is aimed at keeping as much
of the existing canopy alive as possible until natural control factors lead to
the eventual collapse of the insect infestation. The forest protection programs
have contributed to the development of forest management plans outlining
harvesting schedules which lessen susceptible mature and over mature trees, and
utilize those that can be salvaged.
In the early 1990's Hemlock Looper
infestations began in southern Newfoundland, and expanded into central and
western parts of theIsland. It is at this time that control measures were
initiated. The main insects of concern at present are the Balsam Fir Sawfly,
Yellowheaded Spruce Sawfly and the Hemlock Looper. In sufficient numbers, these
insects can cause severe defoliation of the needles of semi-mature, mature and
mature Balsam Fir trees in a relatively short period. In fact, tree mortality
can occur in one or two years of severe defoliation. The main controlling
factors are weather and a naturally occurring disease, which is also influenced
by weather. Other natural factors such as parasites and predators do contribute
to population reduction, but cannot prevent defoliation during an outbreak.
The main insect infestations currently being managed in this Province are located in
Western Newfoundland, on the Northern Peninsula and in Central Newfoundland. The Balsam
Fir Sawfly is actively destroying forest in Western Newfoundland while the
Yellowheaded Spruce Sawfly is damaging spruce plantations in Central
Newfoundland and in limited areas on the Northern Peninsula. The Hemlock Looper
is also active on the Northern Peninsula where it is consuming valuable timber
stands.
In 1998 and 1999 government's insect
control program used the chemical insecticide, Dylox, to combat the Balsam Fir
Sawfly while the biological insecticide, B.t.k., was used against the Hemlock
Looper. Dylox was successful in reducing sawfly populations in those areas
where it was permitted to be applied. Environmental
guidelines restrict the use of Dylox in certain areas which, in turn, reduces
the overall effectiveness of the control program against the sawfly. The battle
to reduce Hemlock Looper populations continues.
Experimental spraying using three non-chemical products was also carried out as
part of the 1999 forest insect control program. NEEM (a natural extract from the
Asian Neem tree) was used against the Yellow Headed Spruce Sawfly, B.t.i. (used
against Black Fly and mosquito populations in Labrador) and a natural Balsam Fir
Sawfly virus were used against Balsam Fir Sawfly populations. Initial results
revealed that the natural virus and NEEM were successful in reducing insect
populations. Further study is currently being undertaken by Newfoundland
Forestry officials and the Canadian Forest Service to establish parameters using
these products at larger experimental and operational levels.
Did You Know?
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The Newfoundland Forest Service is actively involved in
planning for effective forest management. An important part of this plan focuses
on an Integrated Pest Management approach of which Forest Protection is an
integral component. |
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The Newfoundland Forest Service has employed the use of
spray programs where and when required since the 1960's to protect the forests
of our Province. |
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The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has an
excellent safety record with respect to the application of insecticides used to
protect our forests; there has never been a citation issued against Government
for violation of rules or regulations established for any insect control program
it has undertaken. |
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In the 1970's, failure to actively pursue a Forest
Protection Program against an outbreak of the spruce budworm resulted in the
loss of up to 50 million cubic metres of Balsam Fir and Black Spruce. This
equates to about a 25 year wood supply for the entire forest industry. |
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Isolating and controlling insect infestations now
through implementing an effective Forest Insect Management Program will help to
ensure a healthy forest ecosystem for the future. It will also help to avoid a
potential insect infestation crisis situation in the future such as that faced
in the 1970's with the Spruce Budworm. |
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Btk, in conjunction with the
insecticide Mimic, were applied using spray aircraft to combat outbreaks of
hemlock looper populations. |
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The majority of operational control
activity took place on the Northern Peninsula while treatment of smaller
infestations also took place in Western and Central parts of the province as
well as the Bay d’Espoir area. |
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Approximately 59,760 hectares of forest
was treated as part of the entire hemlock looper control program. Approximately
11,450 hectares were treated with two applications of Btk while 45,306
hectares received one application. Three thousand hectares of forest were
also treated with the insecticide Mimic. |
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B.t.k. has been used in Canada for over a quarter century. It
has been used to protect forests in Newfoundland since 1977. B.t.k. is most
commonly used to control defoliating caterpillar pests. In over 25 years of use
no significant environmental impacts have been observed. |
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The insecticide, Neemix 4.5, was used against the balsam fir
sawfly on infested forest areas in the vicinity of the Bay d’ Espoir
Highway. |
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Newfoundland Forest Service officials also worked in
conjunction with the Canadian Forest Service to carry out an experimental balsam
fir sawfly program in Western Newfoundland using a naturally occurring balsam
fir sawfly virus. |
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Approximately 1,500 hectares of forest treated with Neemix
4.5; while approximately 1,500 hectares of forest was treated with the
naturally occurring balsam fir sawfly virus as part of the experimental sawfly
control program. |
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The expansion of insect populations continued to the northeast
extending from the area of Pinchgut Lake into the general vicinity of Corner
Brook. |
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