Ontario’s Forest Health Monitoring Program in 2008 was jointly conducted by the Canadian Forest Service (CFS) and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) under a Memorandum of Agreement.
Recording and reporting of forest health conditions in Ontario includes monitoring the occurrence of both native and invasive biotic (e.g., insect, disease), and abiotic (e.g., severe weather conditions) disturbances and events. The monitoring program consists of permanent sample plots, temporary sample plots, plantation surveys, and aerial mapping of major forest disturbances. All forest areas included are: provincial Crown land, federal lands, First Nations territories, parks, and private land and urban areas. Ad hoc sampling of insects and diseases is also done to maintain a database of their occurrence in the province.
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Executive Summary
The results of the 2008 monitoring program and the subsequent forest health updates were used to compile the Forest Health Conditions in Ontario 2008 report. This report is divided into chapters on major forest disturbances, invasive species, and disturbances reported in each OMNR administrative region: Northwest Region, Northeast Region and Southern Region. Pests reported within each chapter are listed in alphabetical order by scientific name. An index has also been included at the end of the report for easy reference.
For the purpose of this report, major forest disturbances are caused by biotic and abiotic factors which lead to severe damage that typically spans more than one region. The term invasive species refers to insects or pathogens that are either accidentally or deliberately introduced to Ontario, or that have expanded beyond their normal range, and are currently causing, or are likely to cause, economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.
A variety of forest health events occurred in Ontario in 2008. The cool, wet summer resulted in increased occurrences of foliar diseases across the province. The area of moderate-to-severe defoliation by gypsy moth continued to increase in 2008. However, the cool, wet weather provided ideal conditions for the growth and spread of the fungal disease Entomophaga maimaiga, which killed off many of the gypsy moth larvae.
Invasive species continued to cause problems in several parts of Ontario. Most notable was emerald ash borer, which continued to spread across the province. This pest, originating from Asia, was detected for the first time in northern Ontario in Sault Ste. Marie and was found as far east as Ottawa. Surveying for the invasive European woodwasp recurred this year but no new areas were found infested. Surveys conducted in Toronto and Vaughan by municipal staff or contractors under the direction of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency found no new infestations of Asian long-horned beetle.
Other significant forest health issues in the province included a 50% decrease in overall area defoliated by eastern spruce budworm and a 70% decrease in overall area defoliated by jack pine budworm. Although overall area of jack pine budworm defoliation was reduced from 2007, there was an expansion of moderate-to-severe defoliation in Red Lake and Timmins districts. Overwintering larval surveys were conducted in the fall of 2008 to forecast jack pine budworm defoliation for 2009 to determine the need for a pest management program in 2009.
A survey was completed in 2008 to determine the distribution, range, and condition of butternut, an endangered species.
There are some forest pests not described in this report that may have affected Ontario’s forests in 2008 or in previous years. Information on certain pests may be omitted if insignificant populations or damage levels occurred in 2008, or were very small on a spatial scale, or if identification of the pest had not yet been verified.
