Hemlock woolly adelgid poses a serious threat to New York’s forests

CLARYVILLE―Join Cornell Cooperative Extension staff at Frost Valley YMCA on Tuesday, February 10 from 2-4 p.m. for an informative hands-on program, Hemlock Health Monitoring Plots and Hemlock Woolly Adelgid. Learn how you can be part of the solution!

The invasive insect hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) poses a serious threat to New York’s forests. One important conservation strategy is identifying and conserving hemlocks that may show natural resistance. In this session, participants will be introduced to The Nature Conservancy’s Trees in Peril project, which uses long-term monitoring plots to help locate potentially resistant hemlocks.

The program is presented by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties with the New York State Hemlock Initiative. Frost Valley YMCA is located at 2000 Frost Valley Road in Claryville.

Participants will learn how to establish long-term monitoring plots to assess hemlock health and identify potentially HWA-resistant hemlock trees. The program will also cover the basics of hemlock ecology, how to identify HWA, and how monitoring plots support hemlock conservation and research efforts.

There will be a classroom portion of the program as well as a hands-on outdoor portion where participants will help set up a monitoring plot. Participants should be prepared to spend time in cold temperatures during the outdoor portion of the program.

The program fee is $15 per person and registration is requested.  Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hemlock-health-monitoring-plots-hemlock-woolly-adelgid-hwa-tickets-1980407169154?aff=WS.

For more information on Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties, visit their website at CceColumbiaGreene.org.

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