As part of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and other cooperating agencies’ battle against the southern pine beetle, a group of DEC Foresters will arrive on Long Island on June 7 and begin work on June 8 at DEC’s Rocky Point Pine Barrens State Forest conducting forest inventory work on this 6,000 acre pine-oak forest.

What:               A group of DEC Foresters will perform forest inventory work as part of the data gathering effort needed to control the spread of  southern pine beetle on Long Island. Foresters will demonstrate measuring equipment and describe how the inventory work will help them determine future southern pine beetle control efforts on this property and potentially other properties with similar timber stands.  

Where:             Directions to Rocky Point Pine Barrens State Preserve Media Location: From the Long Island Expressway (LIE) head north on the William Floyd Parkway, turn left onto Whiskey Road, go approximately 2.2 miles to hunter spot 18. Media filming location is about 230 feet from the road. Coordinates from Google Earth - 40° 54’ 29.21” - 72° 55’ 17.57.

When:               Monday, June 8 at Noon.                                             

Followed by:    Following this presentation, members of the media will be able to ask a DEC staff person questions relating to the steps already taken by DEC to control the spread of southern pine beetles.

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DEC Contact: Bill Fonda or Aphrodite Montalvo at (631) 444-0350. Day of Event – (516) 808-2731.