If you’ve ever hiked through the forests of Northern Georgia, you know the Eastern hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis). They are large, graceful trees with gently drooping branches providing dense shade and incredible beauty. They are slow growing and long lived; more shade-tolerant than any other tree; and can grow in moist, acidic, high-elevation areas where few other trees can survive. The shade they c
reate buffers the temperature of streams. They provide shelter and habitat for many wildlife and bird species, and their mighty roots prevent land erosion. But our hemlocks are dying. The non-native hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) is a parasitic insect killing the hemlock trees of Appalachia at an alarming rate. The U.S. Forest Service estimates that HWA has already killed millions of hemlocks across their native range, and it continues its devastating march in North Georgia.
100% of HemlockFest proceeds aid efforts to minimize the impact of HWA in Georgia. HemlockFest is a major supporter of predator beetle rearing labs at area colleges and universities. The effort to introduce predator beetles, which feed on HWA and are a safe and effective biological control, may help to save our forests and preserve our quality-of-life. Find out more about the HWA crisis and the many other ways you can help save the hemlock trees of the Southern Appalachians by visiting www.LumpkinCoalition.org. So the hemlocks may live...
