N.S. invests in projects aimed at protecting hemlock trees from an invasive species

Nova Scotia is funding efforts to combat the hemlock woolly adelgid. (Source: Province of Nova Scotia)

The Nova Scotia government is spending more than $600,000 to help save the province’s hemlock trees from an invasive species.

The hemlock woolly adelgid attacks and kills the trees and has no natural predators in the province.

It was first seen in Nova Scotia in 2017, and the province says it has been detected in nine counties:

• Shelburne
• Yarmouth
• Queens
• Digby
• Lunenburg
• Annapolis
• Kings
• Hants
• Halifax

“The hemlock is one of Nova Scotia’s most special and beautiful trees,” said Minister of Environment and Climate Change Timothy Halman in a news release from the province.

“Across the province, Nova Scotians, community groups, the Mi’kmaq and all three levels of government are working together with fierce determination to save hemlock trees and forests. This funding will support that vital work.”

Hemlock trees are one of Nova Scotia’s largest and longest-living tree species and are an important part of old-growth forests.

“It is estimated they store 15-21 million tons of carbon, which is vital for mitigating climate change, and their dense canopy creates a unique ecosystem,” reads the release.

The province says hemlock forests:

• provide shade
• control erosion
• reduce water run-off
• provide valuable habitat for moose, deer, birds and rare lichen
• cool stream beds for trout and salmon
• hold spiritual significance to the Mi’kmaq

Currently, the only effective way to control the insect in the short-term is to do chemical treatments to individual trees. Long-term solutions include importing and growing natural predators.

The province has allotted $356,214 for Acadia University’s hemlock woolly adelgid biocontrol facility and $255,500 for the Town of Bridgewater’s hemlock preservation project.

Acadia’s project includes building a facility to mass produce natural predators – silver flies and fungus beetles.

“At Acadia University’s new biocontrol facility, we are raising two natural predators of the hemlock woolly adelgid to target different stages of the pest’s life cycle,” said N. Kirk Hillier, acting department Head of Acadia University’s department of biology, in the release.

“This will allow us to release tens of thousands of predators each year to help protect and restore Nova Scotia’s hemlock forests.”

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, silver flies and fungus beetles are seen as the best long-term solution to help control the spread of the hemlock woolly adelgid in Nova Scotia’s forests.

The Town of Bridgewater’s hemlock preservation project will treat an infestation in the community’s parks and trails over the next two years.

“This work will help protect the health of local forests, reduce fire risks and lower the chance of flooding by keeping the ground stable and able to hold water,” reads the release.

The province says the two projects are in addition to a provincial management program that has already treated more than 50,000 hemlock trees.

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