Tiny Invaders, Big News

The NRCS approved our Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan a few weeks ago. In that exercise I learned a lot about the invasive species that threaten what we love about our property. Information came mostly from government and university web sites. With the '10s resurgence of environmentalism, why aren't bug-and-blight threats in the news more often?

The Society of Environmental Journalists offers these tips to reporters who are bugged by the invasive insect problem...

Hundreds of species of tiny, sometimes invisible insect and microbial predators are among the hordes of invasive species that cost billions of dollars to fight each year, and that continue to cause major environmental disruption despite such efforts.

The nemeses often come into the country while hitchhiking on some of the billions of pieces of goods imported each year, such as shipping containers, plant material, and wooden handicrafts, or through processes such as ballast water discharges. They spread by flying, floating in the wind, attached to products such as ships, nursery plants, or wood products, and in other ways.

Some of the latest knowledge about these invaders has been unveiled in two recent studies. One looked at problems in urban and natural forests, and the other focused on microbial pests in various settings.

-- "Historical Accumulation of Nonindigenous Forest Pests in the Continental United States," BioScience, December 2010, Juliann E. Aukema, et al.; Dec. 6, 2010, American Institute of Biological Sciences press release, "Forest Pests Accumulating Despite Regulations": link (through early January 2011, contains link to full study).

-- "Invisible Invaders: Non-Pathogenic Invasive Microbes in Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems," Ecology Letters, December 2010, by Elena Litchman; Dec. 7, 2010, Michigan State University press release, "Invisible Invasive Species Altering Ecosystems" link (includes link to full study).

In natural and urban forests all over the country, there have been at least 470 invading insect and pathogen species over the past century and a half, and major new nemeses continue to turn up at the rate of one every two years or so. Recent examples include emerald ash borer, Asian gypsy moth, Asian longhorned beetle, laurel wilt disease, and sudden oak death. The authors say that, until this study, no one had comprehensively investigated the temporal patterns for invading forest pests. The authors found numerous distinct patterns that may provide insights for efforts to mitigate and prevent problems.

Current procedures and regulations used by the Dept. of Homeland Security and US Dept. of Agriculture have failed to stop the problems, the authors say. One primary recommendation of the study is to improve prevention efforts at points of importation (including shippers and travelers), since eradication of problems seems to be nearly impossible once the invaders gain a toehold.

The study was funded by the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (which is supported in part by the National Science Foundation) and The Nature Conservancy. The researchers are from the US Forest Service, Univ. of California, Santa Barbara, Michigan State Univ., and Univ. of Central Florida.

For two examples of media coverage, see:

-- "Bugs, Beetles, and Borers Put U.S. Forests at Risk," Washington Post, Dec. 13, 2010, by Brian Vastag: link.

-- "Ravenous Foreign Pests Threaten National Treasures," Ascribe Newswire, Dec. 6, 2010: link.

In her review of even less-visible invaders, Michigan State Univ. associate professor Elena Litchman (269-671-2338, link) focused on culprits such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and genetically modified microbes, including recent problematic examples such as blue-green algae, diatoms, and destructive soil microorganisms.

She says that very little is known about the problems that these pests can cause, though numerous hints of their destructive power exist. She speculates that problems could become even worse with climate change and accompanying extreme weather events, since those can provide additional avenues for invasion. Her review of this issue provides numerous hooks for delving into specific problems and general angles.

Webinar: Making Google Earth Work for Land Management

If you haven't looked up your property on Google Earth, stop right now and do it. Keep this page open, and I'll see you in an hour or two. (Don't drool on your keyboard.)

Here's a shot of part of our property. Much higher zoom levels are possible:

Google Earth is a powerful tool that helps landowners see their land and understand it better. This leads to improved land management decision making and information sharing.

NC State University is hosting a webinar that will discuss and demonstrate basic Google Earth setup, exploration, navigation, menus, data creation, and production. The outcome is that participants should be able to use Earth in making land management decisions.

This is directed at Land managers, natural resource professionals, government agency professionals, and landowners.

Time & Date: January 19, 2011, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM (Eastern).

To participate, visit forestrywebinar.net on the day of the webinar. Click on Upcoming Webinars to find the session.

Sign in early so you can download the webinar client software and work out any kinks before the webinar starts.

Questions: Please contact Bill Hubbard whubbard@uga.edu, 706-340-5070.

Thanks to Andy at WSU for passing along the information for me to share with you.

Forest Stewardship Coached Planning Program in Riverside WA

In short, this is a priceless education for $75. I took this course a few years ago, and I highly recommend it for anyone who cares for a land parcel with trees. In the 2-month course you'll write a complete forest stewardship plan. Our plan qualified us for much lower property taxes, and thousands in funding from USDA and DNR. You can read more about that here on the Small Forest Timber Owner Blog.

WSU Extension Forestry will offer the course in Riverside in 2011. Classes meet once a week starting January 25, 2011. Here's their description:

This 8-session practical, hands-on course will help forest landowners prepare their own forest stewardship plan with guidance and coaching from natural resource professionals.

Open to all, this program is designed to help forest landowners develop customized management solutions to meet their own unique objectives. Whether you own 5, 50, or 500 acres of forest, if you want to expand your knowledge and gain confidence for managing your forest, this course is for you!

Why should I attend?

• To learn about keeping your forest healthy and productive for generations to come.

• To learn how to identify and implement practical steps to meet your individual ownership objectives.

• To write a plan that may qualify your forestland for property tax reduction.

Information:


Emily Burt
Extension Educator
@: emburt (a) wsu.edu
tel: (509) 775-5235 x1114
http://ferry.wsu.edu/