Lingering Hemlock Search
In much of the range of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), hemlock mortality due to HWA pressure has already reached at least 80%. This portion of the range is primarily in the southeastern United States, although some parts of Pennsylvania and even southern New York have reported high hemlock mortality. At this degree of hemlock mortality, it may already be possible to identify which trees exhibit resistance to HWA. We are currently recruiting additional partners, such as foresters, land managers, and other natural resource professionals and enthusiasts who are willing to collect data on surviving hemlocks to share with the broader network of Lingering Hemlock Project partners. Lingering Hemlock participants will collect data on the surrounding forest and landscape, helping to document at least 80% hemlock mortality in the general area. The hemlock trees identified as “lingering” will likely still show signs of stress and damage from HWA; we are not expecting to find perfectly resistant hemlock trees in the wild. Instead, we are hopeful that we can study trees that are dying more slowly to learn more about possible mechanisms of genetic resistance that can be bolstered through selective hemlock breeding.
Participants in the Lingering Hemlock search will use the TreeSnap app to collect and share data about surviving hemlock trees and hemlock mortality surrounding them. Though seemingly simple, the identification of a qualifying lingering hemlock can be tricky. We do request that participants take a training before participating. To complete this, participants can watch this 30-mintue training video, or we offer free virtual Lingering Hemlock Identification workshops, where we walk through the qualifications of a Lingering Hemlock and look at many different examples. Check out our Upcoming Events page for these offerings. These workshops will have SAF continuing education credits available.
You can learn more about helping with the lingering hemlock search by reaching out to us at info@lingeringhemlockproject.org. We can also help you schedule a presentation on the project and/or a Lingering Hemlock Identification workshop for you and your respective program.
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