Media cover release of report on preparing for spruce budworm outbreak
The Associated Press, Portland Press Herald, Bangor Daily News, Maine Public Broadcasting Network, WGME (Channel 13 in Portland), WLBZ (Channel 2), WVII (Channel 7) and Mainebiz reported on the release of a report that looks at how the state is preparing for the next cyclical infestation of a pest that could cause severe economic damage to the state’s forest products industry. Described as the most damaging forest insect in North America, the spruce budworm is not yet killing trees in Maine, but has already defoliated 15 million acres in Canada, according to the Press Herald. The report was created by the Maine Spruce Budworm Task Force and includes a plan and risk assessment with about 70 recommendations, some of which have already been implemented. Preparation recommendations for the next expected outbreak include increased monitoring, use of insecticides where they are needed and changing strategies for forest management. The Maine Spruce Budworm Task Force was formed in 2013 by the University of Maine, Maine Forest Service and Maine Forest Products Council to determine what economic and ecological effects another outbreak might have on the state, and what can be done to minimize those effects. “The thing I am most proud of is that we all came together, had critical conversations and prepared a detailed plan before the first tree was defoliated in the state,” Robert Wagner, a forestry professor and director of UMaine’s Center for Research on Sustainable Forests, told the Press Herald. “We hope this report will allow Maine to learn from past successes, avoid previous mistakes and take advantage of the many new opportunities that are out there.” The Washington Times and WABI (Channel 5) carried the AP report.