By Alan Lytle
Lexington, KY – Energy and Environment Secretary Len Peters issued the declaration this week against the Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, and he's directed the State Division of Forestry to do all it can to stop the infestation. Division of Forestry spokesperson Lynn True, says the insect is native to Asia, and was brought to the U-S some fifty years ago via nursery stock.
"In the Eastern part of the country it has nearly wiped out hemlocks in Virginia, in Tennessee around the Smoky Mountains, and the Shenandoah National Area, I think I read nearly ninety percent of those trees have been destroyed by this insect. In Kentucky they were initially discovered in 2006 and since that initial infestation I think they have spread to fifteen counties."
Secretary Peters' declaration also directs forestry officials to seek funding for projects aimed at saving hemlock trees which, according to True, can be found all over the Commonwealth.
"There are hemlocks, that are, although native to the Southeast part of the state, many people have them as ornamental or landscape trees in their yards. They are popular trees in parks and cemeteries, so urban areas have them as well. If you are concerned that you have a tree that may be infested, we just ask that they contact the Division of Forestry and notify our foresters so we can kind of keep an idea of where they are located, and keep an idea of where these infestations are spreading."
Peters says, if unchecked, the adelgid could significantly impact forest ecosystems, as well as tourism and recreation. In fact, if the HWA is not stopped, state officials say the hemlock could suffer the same fate as the American Chestnut tree which was wiped out by blight nearly a century ago.