To some, forests are a place of refuge where one can relax and recharge. To others, they are places full of bugs, mud and undesirable experiences. No matter how you look at a forest, these large tracts of land covered in trees and underbrush form essential ecosystems that supply the needs of many species, including humans. Within eastern forests, one tree in particular stands out as a foundational member: the Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). These trees alter the ecosystem in which they live, form the base of an extensive food web, and establish unique climactic, water and soil conditions wherever they are found in large groups. Known as the “Redwood of the East” these trees provide food and habitat for a host of other species, clean and cool water supplies, aesthetic beauty, and recreational opportunities. Due to their slow growth and predominance across the landscape, their sudden disappearance would starkly alter eastern forests as we know them, and they would never again be the same.

Adelges tsugae, better known as Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (ah-del-jid) or HWA, is an invasive insect that arrived in the United States from southern Japan in the early 1950’s. HWA is a threat to Eastern Hemlock trees because they are not adapted to its presence, and those that become a host to HWA may succumb to the infestation within as little as 4 to 5 years. Since its arrival, HWA has left expansive hemlock stands dead in its wake throughout the east, diminishing the health of the forests where they once stood tall and leaving humans scratching their heads. HWA has arrived in the forests of northwestern PA and southwestern NY, and concerned groups are organizing to focus their attention on the health of our forests with the goal of sustaining hope for the hemlocks.

Several years ago, the USDA Forest Service and Nature Conservancy brought a group of individuals together, representing multiple land ownerships across many political boundaries, to form the High Allegheny Hemlock Conservation Partnership (HAHCP). This group worked to identify and prioritize the hemlock forests within the High Allegheny Plateau and set out to gather information regarding the presence of HWA across this large landscape. Through the Partnership, volunteers were recruited to adopt sites to survey annually for the presence of HWA. Over the past few years, this dangerous pest has been found within multiple sites, but infestations have been treated in an effort to slow its spread.

Today, partners in the HAHCP as well as the Allegheny Forest Health Collaborative (AFHC) are looking ahead and considering how HWA as well as other pests, diseases and stressors may impact the health of our forests in this next decade and beyond. In an effort to glean more information regarding the presence and absence of HWA across the landscape, these groups are seeking the aid of additional volunteers with an interest in monitoring important hemlock habitats for this invasive bug.

On Thursday February 13th, these collaborative groups will be leading a training session hosted by Allegheny Outfitters in Warren PA from 6-7:30pm. In addition, Saturday February 15th staff from the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, one of the project partners, will be joining Allegheny Outfitters on their hike at the Morrison Trail and will highlight to attendees how to survey for HWA and report findings. The group will be meeting at the trailhead on Route 59 at 10:30am. These programs will be free and all are welcome to attend! For more information please visit www.rtpi.org, www.alleghenyoutfitters.com or contact hwa@rtpi.org.