[New] COUNTY Suffolk County Combats Southern Pine Beetle

Suffolk County, in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), is working to help combat the invasive Southern Pine Beetle and prevent further damage to the Pine Barrens region here on Long Island. Southern Pine Beetles (SPB) have noticeably invaded areas throughout Suffolk County, with a large area of infected trees located in Southaven County Park.

There are no current methods to fully eradicate the beetle, however the accepted and most effective method of minimizing the spread of the Southern Pine Beetle includes cutting down infested trees and closely infected trees to create a buffer zone. This buffer zone is essential to halt the spread of the pest, as the beetle typically spreads to pines that lie in close proximity to infected trees. Once the trees are felled, they will be left in place for the benefit of the forest. The trees will naturally decompose over time and replenish the nutrient cycle within the ecosystem.

Suffolk Legislator Jim Mazzarella visited Southaven

County Park to gain a better understanding of the efforts being utilized to both mitigate the spread and protect the public. Dead trees adjacent to the trails are being cut down to protect the park patrons from potential hazards. Teams of workers are also cutting live but infected trees in order to halt the spread of infestation.

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said, "With our partners in Suffolk County, DEC will continue to proactively work to combat the environmental threat Southern Pine Beetle poses to the region.”

Southern Pine Beetles, or SPB, are a bark beetle that infests pitch pine trees. This small beetle is only 2-4mm in length, making it about the size of a grain of rice, and is red-brown to black in color.

SPBs tunnel through the pine tree, disrupting the flow of nutrients and can kill an adult pine tree in 2-4 months. These beetles are native to the Southeastern United States but have been expanding up the Eastern Seaboard in recent years.

Legislator Mazzarella said: “I understand that significant tree removal will have a devastating impact on these parks and the residents who frequent them. As unfortunate as these drastic actions may be, the necessity of eradicating this invasive insect will protect the further decimation of these parklands and their surrounding communities."

Suffolk County and NYS DEC in conjunction with the Central Pine Barrens Commission are working hard to regain a foothold and combat this major threat to the Pines Barrens.

Funding for this project is being provided by both Suffolk County and the NYS DEC. Tree cutting will begin around November 29, 2022 and the project will continue through 2023. The affected parks will remain open to the public, but there may be temporary closures of active work areas within these parks at any time; Please comply with posted signage/warnings when using the parks.