20: Mapping the Infestation of Balsam Woolly Adelgid in Utah Forests

If you’ve taken a hike or a drive through northern Utah’s forests recently, you may have noticed that some areas of the forests are changing and looking a little sick.  Northern Utah’s forests are increasingly experiencing an infestation of a tiny non-native insect called balsam woolly adelgid (or BWA), that’s slowly attacking subalpine fir which are among the most common conifers in the Wasatch Mountains. Dr. Mickey Campbell was the lead author of a recently published study that maps the spread of balsam woolly adelgid in Utah.  He’s a research assistant professor in the Department of Geography (soon to be renamed the School of Environment, Society, and Sustainability.) I had the chance to talk with him about doing the study and what it means for the future of our forests, as well as his generally philosophy on doing solutions-focused science that can hopefully lead to real-life impacts to policies and practices.  So, with that, here’s our conversation.Website: wilkescenter.utah.edu/podcast/20-mapping-the-infestation-of-balsam-woolly-adelgid-in-utah-forests/