Forest Health, Forest Action Plan

Invasives in Georgia….

Jeff KastleForest Health ForesterGeorgia Forestry Commission

Threats to

Forest Health

in Georgia

Invasives and Other Forest Health Issues in Georgia….

Jeff KastleForest Health ForesterGeorgia Forestry Commission

Forest Health ManagementForest Health Coordinator – Chip Bates

Forest Health Specialist:Mark McClure - Southwest GeorgiaLynne Womack – North GeorgiaChris Barnes – East Georgia

Forest Health Technicians:Jim SullivanScott CameronReggie Morgan

Forest Health ManagementMonitoring Activities

Southern Pine Beetle Activity • Spring Trapping (annual prediction) & Aerial

Monitoring

Gypsy Moth Trapping

Emerald Ash Borer Trapping

Monitor for Sudden Oak Death Pathogen

Forest Health ManagementOther Activities

Cogon Grass• If discovered, Forest Health personnel will

treat the spot at no cost to the landowner. This usually requires a minimum of three annual visits

Forest Health ManagementOther Activities

Hemlock Wooly Adelgid• Georgia Forestry Commission rents

soil injectorsBrief History• Native of southeast Asia• Accidentally introduced in 1924

http://www.forestryimages.org/images/768x512/1626009.jpg

Invasive Species?

What IS An Invasive?

ANY Plant or Animal that has been introduced.


ANY Plant or Animal that has been introduced and aggressively competes with and displaces local native communities.


ANY Plant or Animal that has been introduced and aggressively competes with and displaces local native communities.Normally having No Natural Enemies to limit reproduction and spread.

What are some Common Invasive

Species?

What are some commonInvasive Species?

• Kudzu

• Wisteria


• Kudzu

• Wisteria

• Chinese Privet

• Chinaberry

• Cherokee Rose


• Kudzu

• Wisteria

• Chinese Privet

• Chinaberry

• Cherokee Rose

• Chinese Tallowtree

2009 Dirty Dozen List:Rank Species or Genera Acres

1 Non-native Privet 347,3462 non-native Lespedeza 58,3913 kudzu 26,6694 Chinaberry 23,0575 Japanese Climbing Fern 9,2256 Tallowtree 7,2047 non-native Roses 5,7998 non-native Olives 5,1589 chinese/japanese wisteria 5,045

10 napalese browntop 4,06111 Mimosa 3,56712 Cogongrass 200

495,722

•Top 11 species removing honeysuckle and fescue

•Cogongrass is GFC estimate

2013 “Dirty Dozen”ListRank Species or Genera

Percent Increase

1 Non-native privet 14%2 Napalese browntop 60%3 Chinaberry 13%4 Kudzu 17%5 Non-native lespedeza 1%6 Japanese climbing fern 26%7 Mimosa 19%8 Non-native roses 21%9 Chinese tallowtree 36%

10 Non-native olive 26%11 Chinese / Japanese wisteria 36%12 Cogongrass 183 Acres


Percent Increase

1 Non-native privet (726,148 Acres) 14%2 Napalese browntop 60%3 Chinaberry 13%4 Kudzu 17%5 Non-native lespedeza 1%6 Japanese climbing fern 26%7 Mimosa 19%8 Non-native roses 21%9 Chinese tallowtree 36%



Percent Increase

1 Non-native privet (726,148 Acres) 14%2 Napalese browntop (111,836 Acres) 60%3 Chinaberry 13%4 Kudzu 17%5 Non-native lespedeza 1%6 Japanese climbing fern 26%7 Mimosa 19%8 Non-native roses 21%9 Chinese tallowtree 36%



Percent Increase

1 Non-native privet (726,148 Acres) 14%2 Napalese browntop (111,836 Acres) 60%3 Chinaberry (67,543 Acres) 13%4 Kudzu 17%5 Non-native lespedeza 1%6 Japanese climbing fern 26%7 Mimosa 19%8 Non-native roses 21%9 Chinese tallowtree 36%



Percent Increase

1 Non-native privet (726,148 Acres) 14%2 Napalese browntop (111,836 Acres) 60%3 Chinaberry (67,543 Acres) 13%4 Kudzu (42,158 Acres) 17%5 Non-native lespedeza 1%6 Japanese climbing fern 26%7 Mimosa 19%8 Non-native roses 21%9 Chinese tallowtree 36%



Percent Increase

1 Non-native privet (726,148 Acres) 14%2 Napalese browntop (111,836 Acres) 60%3 Chinaberry (67,543 Acres) 13%4 Kudzu (42,158 Acres) 17%5 Non-native lespedeza (41,069 Acres) 1%6 Japanese climbing fern 26%7 Mimosa 19%8 Non-native roses 21%9 Chinese tallowtree 36%



Percent Increase

1 Non-native privet (726,148 Acres) 14%2 Napalese browntop (111,836 Acres) 60%3 Chinaberry (67,543 Acres) 13%4 Kudzu (42,158 Acres) 17%5 Non-native lespedeza (41,069 Acres) 1%6 Japanese climbing fern (20,563 Acres) 26%7 Mimosa 19%8 Non-native roses 21%9 Chinese tallowtree 36%



Percent Increase



2,226,800 Acres of non-native invasive plants across Georgia


Percent Increase



14% Increase in 2 years across Georgia

Kudzu

•Imported in 1876

•Erosion Control in the 30’s

•Use Chemical or Biological Control

•Tordon, Transline, or Escort

Chinese Privet

•Imported in 1852

•Planted as an ornamental

•Adapts well to many sites

•Aggressive invasive species

Chinese Privet• By far one of the most invasive species in

Georgia

• Colonizes low wet areas readily

• Spread easily by wildlife (birds)

• Forms dense thicket walls

• Shades and out competes with many native species and once established, is very difficult to remove

Chinese Privet

Control• Because privet is an evergreen, winter time is a

great time to target this species

• Not much else is green during this time

• Very few other things will be harmed by foliar active herbicides like glyphosate (ex. Round-up)

• Most common prescription is a 2% - 5% solution rate of 41% active ingredient products of glyphosate applied evenly over the shrub

Chinese Privet

• Great example of why invasive species need to be controlled

• Without control they have the potential to dominate sites and push out native species

• Reduce the native bio-diversity

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Japanese Climbing Fern


• First introduced in 1930’s (ORNAMENTAL)

• Approximately 20,000 acres

• Easily spread in pine straw



• Dies back in late winter

• Dead vines providing a trellis for

re-establishment



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• Southern Bark Beetle– Prediction Survey– Aerial Bark Beetle

Survey

• Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

• Laurel Wilt Disease

• Early Detection Rapid Response

• Sudden Oak Death

• Annosum Root Disease

• Cogongrass


• Japanese Climbing Fern

• Chinese Privet

• Exotic Wood Borers

• Emerald Ash Borer

• Gypsy Moth

• Trifoliate Orange

• Tree of Heaven

Ips species (3)

Southern Pine Beetle Dendroctonus frontalis

Black Turpentine Beetle Dendroctonus terebrans

3 Main Types of Pine Bark

Beetles

Southern Pine Beetle

• Without question, has the potential to cause the most damage to timber (more than any other single disease or insect)

• Historically, we have very little damage in South Georgia

• Normally a major problem in North Georgia• Damage goes in cycles

Southern Pine Beetle

Prediction Survey• Usually completed about the time the dogwoods are

beginning to leaf out

Lindgren Funnel Trap

Clerid beetles are natural predators of the Southern Pine Beetle

•Southern Pine Beetle

–Prediction Survey (Spring)

–Aerial Bark Beetle Survey (as needed)

Detection Survey

Detection Survey

Pine Beetle Spots Start Small & Spread QuicklyPine Beetle Spots Start Small & Spread Quickly

Pine Beetle Spots Start Small & Spread QuicklyPine Beetle Spots Start Small & Spread Quickly

Pine Beetle Control and Prevention

• Periodic thinning to maintain a vigorous growing stand

• Pre-commercial thinning in young overstocked stands

Too dense

Room To Grow

Our global economy….

The port of Savannah and the Atlanta airport have the potential to bring in many non-native species.

The Port of SavannahThe Port of Savannah……

19941994 550,000 Containers550,000 Containers

2009 2009 2.36 million 2.36 million ContainersContainers



(Projected Growth)(Projected Growth)

20152015 4.37 Million 4.37 Million ContainersContainers

Homeland Security – Customs and Border ProtectionHomeland Security – Customs and Border Protection

The Expansion has started

Solid Wood Packing Material

Solid Wood Packing Material

Laurel Wilt Disease

WHAT IF ?????

THIS HAD BEEN:OAKPINE

• Hemlock Woolly Adelgid


• Southern Pine Beetle

• Sudden Oak Death

• Heterobasidion Root Disease

• Exotic Wood Borers

• Emerald Ash Borer

• Gypsy Moth

• Trifoliate Orange

• Tree of Heaven

• Chinese Privet

QUESTIONS ?Jeff Kastle

Forest Health Forester

1055 E. Whitehall RoadAthens, Ga. 30605

GATREES.org

Office: 706.552.4450

E-mail: [email protected]

Technology

Forest Health, Forest Action Plan