Natural Resources
July 7, 2008
Labrador Spray Program Focuses on
Hemlock Looper Infestation
The Provincial Government is conducting an immediate
forest insect spray program this week to combat an infestation of the
hemlock looper in Forest Management District 19 in Labrador, near and
south of Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
�The hemlock looper is forecast to infest over 25,000 hectares of forest
in this district, impacting almost two million cubic metres of wood,�
said the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Natural Resources and
Minister Responsible for the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency. �We are
focusing our spray program this year on approximately 7,500 hectares of
forest that is forecast to receive the heaviest levels of infestation.
This is a matter of conservation and protecting the future five- to
10-year wood supply in this region.�
This is the stage in the development of the insect that is the most
effective time to spray. The product being used is Btk, a
naturally-occurring bacterium that can be found in soil, water and
plants around the world and has been extensively studied. It does not
kill other types of insects and has no impact when eaten by fish,
earthworms, frogs, birds or humans. None of these organisms have the
alkaline gut necessary to activate Btk.
The safety of Btk has been confirmed by 25 years of use in urban and
rural applications and it is considered so safe that it is not required
to be registered under the Environmental Assessment Act.
�The forest insect control program is a key component of our integrated
approach toward responsible forest management,� Minister Dunderdale
said. �In 2007, upwards of 21,000 hectares of valuable timber stands
throughout the province were treated as part of the program to limit
damage caused by the hemlock looper and balsam fir sawfly. The
department is continuing this approach in 2008 in areas across the
province. The infestation of hemlock looper in Labrador this year is
serious and warrants a concentrated approach.�
The hemlock looper is also forecast to infest almost 50,000 hectares in
Southern Labrador. This year the department will protect approximately
10,000 hectares that are defined as critical wood supply for industry in
the Charlottetown and Port Hope Simpson area. A smaller spruce budworm
infestation also exists in some parts of Labrador, however, the budworm
does not kill trees as fast as the hemlock looper. Btk is effective on
both insects.
The department has held a number of information sessions in Happy
Valley-Goose Bay and Southern Labrador regarding the extent of this
year�s infestation, including consultations with the Innu Nation. Innu
elders were also taken on a helicopter tour of the infected areas to
witness the damage to the forest areas. The department also worked
closely with the Innu Nation Forest Office on this issue.
�I am pleased with the continuous dialogue between my officials and the
Innu Nation on the issue of the causes and effects of the hemlock looper
outbreak, as well as the management and science solutions available to
us to respond to the outbreak,� Minister Dunderdale said. �The Innu
Nation has expressed concern about proceeding with the spray program,
however, failure to spray this year will cause irreparable harm and wipe
out the five- to 10-year wood supply and this is simply not an option.
This program is critical to our forest management efforts and it is
proceeding in all areas of the province where the forests are at risk.�
The provincial forest insect spray program is administered in accordance
with rules and regulations set out in an operator�s licence issued to
the department by the Department of Environment and Conservation. The
control products used have been evaluated by Health Canada for impacts
on human health and wildlife and have been declared safe when applied in
accordance with guidelines.
Information about the time and location of treatment activity will be
available throughout the program on a daily basis from local media
outlets, on the Department of Natural Resources web site at
www.nr.gov.nl.ca/nr/ or by calling the Forest Insect Control Program
Update Line at 1-877-636-2996.
Media contact:
Tracy Barron
Director of Communications
Department of Natural Resources
709-729-5282, 690-8241
tracybarron@gov.nl.ca
2008 07 07
4:35 p.m.
