Environmental Conservation Board Resources

ECB Resources - Trees, Shrubs, and Wildflowers

ECB Article November 2020: The Wild Turkey
ECB Article January 2020: Winter Birding in Canandaigua
An Inside Look: The Issue with Birds and Glass, Audubon webinar on the who, what, when, where, why and how of bird-glass collisions.

ECB Article January 2021: Bugs in the Winter
Support Your Local Pollinators
"There Are Wasps in the Yard. You'd Better Get to Know Them" article from The New York Times, July 21, 2020
Invasive Species That Threaten the Town of Canandaigua: Learn about Giant Hogweed, Japanese Knotweed, Mile-a-Minute Vine, Hydrilla, Asian Longhorn Beetles and Emerald Ash Borer, and how to control them. Contact information is provided for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Ontario County Soil and Water Conservation District and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ontario County.
Lessons of 2019: A Review of Invasive and Native Pests Affecting Northeast Plants: Presented by Margery Daughtrey and Daniel Gilrean, Cornell University. This webinar provides a concise listing of management options. Produced in 2019, it includes references to spotted lantern flies, emerald ash borers, various fungal diseases and newer invasives making appearances. Good discussion of the impact of weather and climate changes on the success of pests. This is a one-hour webinar. NOTE: From the Urban Forestry Today home page, look for the 4/11/19 webinar. There are also other webinars of interest on the home page.
What's Eating My Trees and How Do I Kill Them? New York State Department of Environmental Conservation webinar, presented by NY Region ReLeaf Committee, focusing on the gypsy moth. 2 hours.

Emerald Ash Borer Update: Presented by Juli Gould, Entomologist with UDDA APHIS. This webinar provides background on EAB establishment and spread, and discussion of research to date on biological control methods, including the success of introduction of Tetrastichus planipennisi, a parasitic non-stinging wasp that attacks EAB . This webinar is one hour long.

Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) Found in Ithaca, N.Y. From Cornell Cooperative Extension, Ontario County, "Extension Farm and Land Notes," December 2020 issue. Select the following links for the articles in the announcement on the Spotted Lanternfly:

—Northeastern IPM Center Article

—New York State IPM Article

—New York State Agriculture and Markets Announcement

—To send an email to report the Spotted Lanternfly, select this link
Spotted Lanternfly Update: Survey and Response to Detecting SLF in New York State: This webinar is part of the Finger Lakes Institute/Finger Lakes PRISM Webinar Series on how to identify, observe and report the Spotted Lanternfly and survey using iMapInvasives. Originally presented in October 2020.
Spot This! Spotted Lanternfly and the Risk to Our Region: This webinar discusses this invasive pest which affects horticultural and agricultural crops, ornamentals, landscape, forests and shade trees. Every resident of New York and neighboring states could potentially be affected if the Spotted Lanternfly becomes established. This webinar is presented by Tim Weigle, Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
New York State Hemlock Initiative: Landowner Hemlock Prioritization Toolkit: As a forest owner, figuring out which forest problems to address can be challenging. Hemlock is just one of many tree species you probably have on your property. Why should they get your time and attention? Hemlocks provide some services that other species can't—supporting both land species and stabilizing stream habitats. They also provide a unique environment for you to enjoy on your property. Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) can kill all of the hemlocks on your property is left untreated, but the available treatments work very well and are effective for several years. Whether you own a handful of hemlocks or hundreds of acres of them, this tool can help you think through what value your hemlocks bring to your property, and which hemlocks are the most important to conserve.
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid: Presented by Mark Whitmore, Cornell University. The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid is one of the most important ecological problems facing forests in eastern North America. Having ravaged forests in the Appalachian Mountains and surrounding areas, it has been moving much more slowly as it spreads northward. This hour-long video is a comprehensive review of management strategies with particular emphasis on biological controls. This webinar was presented in 2018.

ECB Article August 2020: A Primer on Invasive Species—Check In On Your Trees
Gypsy Moth Caterpillar Fact Sheet
Gypsy Moths: A Persistent Forest Pest in North America: Andrew Liebhold, U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station, presents a review of the history of the gypsy moth infestation and its spread across the northeast, with prediction for future spread. Discussion of various attempts at suppression including use of biocontrol techniques to prevent defoliation, as well as employing silvacculture to decrease infestation. This is an 80-minute webinar.
InsectXaminer Episode #1: Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar): This very short (three-minute) video from the University of Massachusetts describes the gypsy moth lifecycle, impact on trees and natural control. Suggest audio be muted while watching.

Asian Longhorned Beetle: Presented by Dr. Kevin Dodds, USDA Forest Service Entomologist. The Asian Longhorned Beetle has escaped from its infestation of urban trees and has begun impacting rural woodlands. This beetle has had significant impact on Maple trees, particularly Red Maple, in downstate New York. It is not current established in the Finger Lakes or western New York although there is concern for its spread. This is an 80-minute video originally presented in 2014.