The Newfoundland and Labrador Forest Industry Association is expressing dismay over Gros Morne National Park’s refusal to participate in an early intervention program to control the destructive spruce budworm.
The west coast of the province was devastated by a huge outbreak back in the 1970s. Outbreaks usually occur in 30 to 40-year cycles.
Nearby Quebec is currently dealing with a spruce budworm outbreak that has destroyed millions of hectares of woodland.
The executive director of the association, Bill Dawson, says the early intervention control program is one that was put forward by Natural Resources Canada, the Canadian Forest Service and the provincial government to monitor, detect and knock down any possible infestations of the destructive insects.
“We understand that budworm is a natural process. However, given our past track record with budworm epidemics, and the uncertainties of climate change on the population dynamics of the insect, we feel Parks Canada is shirking their legitimate responsibility to the forest community, by neglecting to participate in the Early Intervention Strategy control program. They are putting the remaining forests on the island, and our livelihood, at unnecessary risk.
When the time comes to review the results of this outbreak, it will be interesting to see if our Federal Parks system will be deemed liable for any losses, by allowing this critical budworm cluster to spread”. – Bill Dawson, NLFIA
Dawson says all agencies have to be on board in addressing and preventing outbreaks.
When one group doesn’t participate, it unnecessarily exposes other neighbouring forests says Dawson.
“It’s not like Gros Morne hasn’t sprayed before,” he says. In 1988 parks staff requested a spraying program for hemlock looper based on public complaints about larvae dropping down on picnic tables and camping equipment.