Hemlock Restoration Initiative Workshops
Hemlock trees in western North Carolina have been suffering for over two decades from the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), an invasive insect pest that can kill the tree in as little as four years. However, there is good news for landowners with hemlocks on their property. In the past, chemical treatment has been expensive and usually done by professionals, but new methods are now available that can be done inexpensively by landowners themselves.
The Hemlock Restoration Initiative is hosting two workshops in March to educate and update landowners, land managers, and tree care professionals about the most current options available to protect hemlocks from HWA. The workshops will consist of an online presentation and in-the-field practice to give participants the tools to make informed decisions about managing their hemlocks. Space is very limited due to Covid-19 precautions, so register today! Registration is $10.
Workshop Dates:
Friday, March 19: Sycamore Flats Recreation Area in Pisgah National Forest
Saturday, March 27: McDowell Technical Community College in Marion (plus optional 3-hour in-person biocontrol session on the afternoon of Friday 3/26)
The presentation material will be pre-recorded and available in the week leading up to the workshop. On the evening before the field portion (3/18 for Sycamore Flats and 3/25 for McDowell Tech), there will be an online orientation and Q&A session via Zoom. The optional biocontrol session at the McDowell Tech workshop will cover biological control of HWA, including past and current efforts to integrate HWA-predators in western North Carolina and how participants can monitor for the presence of HWA-predators on their property.
