Forests and trees are under tremendous pressure from native and exotic insects, diseases and plants; weather variation (e.g., drought, frosts); human activity (trails, bikes, horses, drainage, construction); and historic management problems like grazing and lack of tending/thinning in the forest.
W& A staff are experts in forest health assessment, and in diagnosing and developing improvement strategies. Some problems are easily identified (e.g., gypsy moth, buckthorn) and recommendations made so owners can decide if and how they should take action. The cause of other problems may be less obvious (e.g., drought stress, soil moisture/drainage changes), but remedies are often possible.
Municipalities and Large Landowners
We have conducted general Forest Health Surveys and surveys for specific pests like Gypsy Moth for many municipalities in southern Ontario. Forest health assessments should be done when developing or updating Forest Management Plans, identifying problems in stands or tracts, or making periodic assessments recommended in a Plan.
W&A has developed and helped implement management strategies for a number of insects and diseases including Gypsy Moth, Oak Decline, Emerald Ash Borer, and for invasive plants like Garlic Mustard, Giant Hogweed and Buckthorn. Web links to sources of information on these invasive pests are provided below.
Private Landowners
Landowners have different levels of interest in controlling pests. We can assess a situation, inform landowners about forest health/pest problems, provide control options and costs, and help control pests. Some of the problems we work regularly with are Gypsy Moth, Oak Decline, and Emerald Ash Borer; and invasive plants like Garlic Mustard, Giant Hogweed and Buckthorn.
Web links for more information:
