Sustainability
Treating HWA-infested trees is an investment into a stand’s future, and the future of the property on which that stand is situated. You can maximize your investment by treating trees for long-term benefits. Sustainability, especially in a changing climate, is one consideration that may help you invest in the best possible stands and protect hemlock resources for many years to come.
Stand Resilience
Choosing trees that are likely to continue having their needs met into the future may be a better choice for HWA management. This includes trees that are away from areas of development or other threats. This also includes stands that are more likely to remain intact in the face of climate changes.
Potential for Treatment or Treatment Type
Can the site in question be treated? Will there be any obstacles that may make treatment difficult? If you are considering multiple sites but there is one with very difficult or dangerous treatment conditions, it may be best to treat the other stand where the potential treatment will be easier and less expensive, now and in the future. A simpler treatment will allow more trees or a greater area to be treated, getting the best value per treatment dollar.
Level of Investment Risk
Treating sites with an uncertain future, such as a site that isn’t on protected lands, may be a greater risk than treating stands on conserved land. Ownership of the land may change, and a treated stand on that land may not receive follow-up treatments. By investing in stands with a sure future, you can be confident that those hemlocks will be preserved into the future.
