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NLIS 2
August 3, 2001
(Forest Resources and Agrifoods)

 

2001 forest insect control program completed

Forest Resources and Agrifoods Minister Rick Woodford announced today that the forest insect control program has been completed for 2001. This year�s program consisted of control action to combat two forest pests - the hemlock looper and balsam fir sawfly.

"I am pleased the operational phase of this year�s program has concluded. The forest insect control program is an extremely important component of government�s integrated approach toward responsible pest management," said Minister Woodford. "We are committed to prudent and sustainable forest management. Failure to act in a prompt manner to control insect outbreaks can have a significant impact on the future of our forest resource."

The biological insecticide, Btk, in conjunction with the insecticide Mimic, was used to combat the hemlock looper. The majority of operational control activity took place on the Northern Peninsula. Treatment of smaller infestations also took place in western and central parts of the province as well as the Bay d�Espoir area.

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. 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.

Approximately 59,760 hectares of forest was treated as part of the 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 were also treated with the insecticide Mimic. The balsam fir sawfly control program saw approximately 1,500 hectares of forest treated with Neemix, while approximately 1,500 hectares of forest was treated with the balsam fir sawfly virus as part of the experimental sawfly control program.

Department officials will be conducting insect counts over the next few weeks to evaluate the success of the 2001 forest insect control program. Results will be available within a couple of months once all information is collected, analyzed and evaluated.

Media contact: Sonia B. Glover, Director of Communications, (709) 729-6183.

2001 08 03                                                        2:10 p.m.


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