[NJAISA] New Jersey Arborists, Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture

NEW JERSEY ARBORISTS, CHAPTER ISA, INC.

New Jersey Establishes Forest Health Council

On December 14, 2006, the New Jersey Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill No. 839 to establish a forest health council within the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The bill was then approved by the New Jersey Assembly. The Council will act in an advisory capacity to the DEP, through the Division of Parks and Forestry, in making public policy to minimize the threat of forest health issues to New Jersey’s forests and community trees. The council will study and track the eastward spread of sudden oak death, the impact of bacterial leaf scorch, and other potential health issues.

They will also evaluate New Jersey’s susceptibility to other forest health issues, make recommendations to the Commissioner of Environmental Protection and other State agencies, and conduct research and public outreach and education. For the full text of the bill, see: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills/S1000/839_R1.PDF.

Current Alert:

PEST ALERT:
The pine shoot beetle, an invasive species that stunts the growth of pine trees, has been found in five New Jersey counties. The beetle, a native of Europe discovered most recently in the United States in 1992, attacks new shoots of pine trees. It also can attack stressed pines by breeding under the bark at the base of the tree. The beetle can seriously harm the health of trees and even kill them when present in large enough numbers. The beetles prefer Scotch pines, but will feed and reproduce in most pine species. While the beetle can seriously harm the health of pine trees, and even kill them, it can be easily managed in Christmas tree plantations and nurseries. The beetles do not attack Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Douglas-Fir, and Fraser Fir, which are commonly grown as Christmas trees.

As of now, there have been a limited number of these beetles found in surveillance traps in New Jersey. Many northeastern states already have widespread populations of this beetle, and there are varying approaches to stopping its spread. However working with the industry, we will take all necessary steps in New Jersey to limit the impact of this invasive pest on our Christmas tree and nursery industries.

The beetles, first found in Cleveland, Ohio, and believed to have entered the country in ships carrying infested dunnage, were found recently in some counties in the northern part of the state. The Division of Plant Industry is reviewing the options for handling this situation under USDA protocols.

Since 1992, the beetles have been detected in all Great Lakes states, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. The beetles also have been found in West Virginia, Virginia, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

To see more about the pine shoot beetle, please visit the NJ Department of Agriculture's Pine Shoot Beetle web page at: www.state.nj.us/agriculture/pineshootbeetle.htm.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at the Division of Plant industry at 609/292-5440. Working together, we can ensure public confidence in our state's horticultural products

Download PDF (40K)

Trees of Invasive Concern (U.S. Forest Service)

Japanese Black Pine - Pinus thunbergii (PDF 201K)

Sweet Cherry - Prunus avium (L.) L. (PDF 264K)

Japanese Corktree - Phellodendron japonicum Maxim (PDF 160K)

Weeping Willow - Salix x sepulcralis Simonkai (PDF 160K)

European Alder - Alnus glutinosa L. Gaertn. (PDF 160K)

Scots Pine - Pinus sylvestris L. (PDF 128K)

Crack Willow - Salix fragilis L. (PDF 208K)

European White Birch - Betula pendula Roth (PDF 236K)

European Mountain Ash - Sorbus aucuparia L. (PDF 220K)

Amur Maple - Acer ginnala (PDF 320K)

Chinaberry Tree - Melia azedarach L. (PDF 236K)

Chinese Elm - Ulmus parvifolia (PDF 320K)

Japanese angelica tree - Aralia elata (PDF 280K)

Norway Maple - Acer platanoides L. (PDF 276K)

Paper Mulberry - Broussonetia papyrifera (PDF 252K)

Siberian Elm - Ulmus pumila L. (PDF 300K)

Silk Tree - Albizia julibrissin Durz. (PDF 280K)

Sycamore maple - Acer pseudoplatanus (PDF 348K)

White Mulberry - Morus alba (PDF 224K)

White Poplar - Populus alba L. (PDF 178K)

Past Alerts:

NJDA Confirms Presence of Asian Longhorned Beetle - Voracious Insect Found in Carteret Neighborhood

New Pest Making a "Stink" in New Jersey (PDF) - Press Release - Oct 2004

Bacterial Leaf Scorch Affects New Jersey's State Tree

Hemlock Wooly Adelgid in New Jersey

Gypsy Moth on the Run in New Jersey

Southern Pine Beetle in New Jersey

Sudden Oak Death Detected in New Jersey

Additional Information:

For additional and up-to-date tree health alert information, please visit the Rutgers Cooperative Research and Extension website. Click on publications for an online directory of downloadable FactSheets (PDF format) and a listing of county offices.