Hastings County may soon call on the provincial government to deal with the Gypsy Moth infestation.
At a meeting of the county’s finance, property and personnel committee on Tuesday, the committee was considering a resolution from Centre Hastings calling on the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to undertake a surveillance program this fall to identify hot spots.
This would also measure the density of the gypsy moth population within central Ontario.
A report indicates widespread areas across central Ontario, including Hastings County, where there has been a substantial impact on the tree canopy by gypsy moths.
Reeve Bonnie Adams of Carlow/Mayo points to the economical effects.
“Just working in that forestry sector it is a problem. So eventually it will affect your economy. It’ll affect jobs. It’ll affect the tree cover.”
Adams points to the economic benefits of forestry and the threat to that industry by the gypsy moths..
“It’s our economy and main job provider for opportunities for the younger people here. And without that resource our municipality will suffer greatly by it, not to mention the green effect.”
The resolution goes to county council later this month.
