2001 RESOLUTIONS
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RESOLUTION
#24: SUDDEN OAK DEATH
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| Sudden Oak Death (SOD) is
an urgent and significant problem in California. This brown alga
(usually referred to as a fungus) has killed tens of thousands of tress
and shrubs, and the problem is accelerating. If the disease is
not stopped, it will spread to other places. |
| Federal and state funds
are available, but except for DNA identification, the research being
done hasn't yet been very helpful. For example, a University of
California researcher (Matteo Garbelotto) has planted oak saplings in 5
gallon pots in potting soil, infested them with SOD, and then treated
them with various fertilizers. One fertilizer killed 75% of the
algae. But this experiment does not even approach field
conditions (inasmuch as affected trees tend to be much large, live in
lean soil, and respond poorly to fertilizer). |
| The Federation of Western
Outdoor Clubs recommends that the allocation of federal and state funds
for research into the SOD epidemic include: 1) broadening the
investigation to look at "the big picture" for commonalties in the
affected forest sites; 2) creating a team of scientists with varied
expertise to assess damage on a regional scale and to develop treatment
methods based on adequate research; and 3) adding fire ecologists to
study how prescribed burning might solve the problem and how it could
be implemented. |
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