The Southern pine beetle has been wreaking havoc on the South Fork and Suffolk County for nearly a decade now. Not only has this invasive species devastated our pitch-pine forests and Central Pine Barrens land, but there are also safety hazards and wildfire risks, complex issues for homeowners, and damage to our beautiful landscapes. What can be done about it? LTV introduces the Pine Protection Project to foster discussion that leads to action and solutions.

“LTV Studios is pleased to announce a community awareness event and project to address the devastation caused by the Southern pine beetle: The Pine Protection Project,” said Chrissy Sampson, LTV’s Director of Community Engagement. “This isn’t just about airing a problem, it’s also about being part of the grassroots solution and rebuilding effort.”

This project will consist of six components:

1. INFORMATION GATHERING: Online survey from May 6-June 5

2. DISCUSSION: Panel talk on June 11 w/ ample time for a Q&A

3. ADVOCACY: What can we DO? Introduce participatory elements

4. DOCUMENTARY: Long-term goal is to produce a mini-documentary

5. RESOURCE GUIDE: Learn how to deal with the SPB spread.

6. ACTION: Plant a native pine seedling! (we have 125 to give out free)

Confirmed panelists include East Hampton Town Councilman David Lys; Jason C. Smith, science and stewardship manager for the Central Pine Barrens Commission; and Tom Ruhle, vice president of trails maintenance for the East Hampton Trails Preservation Society. Additional panelists will be announced upon confirmation.

As part of this project, LTV is conducting a digital survey using Jotform. The results of this survey will be presented on June 11; the community is asked to please respond by June 5. The survey can be found at the following link: https://form.jotform.com/25114...

People throughout the town are also encouraged to submit their own photos and/or video clips of pine beetle damage to be included in a large community gallery. These can be emailed to chrissy@ltveh.org.

A short documentary film, to be released by LTV later in 2025, is also under way. This film will be directed by Jason Nower, a professional filmmaker and LTV’s chief video engineer, whose credits include multiple Netflix productions and the film “A Bronx Tale: The Original One-Man Show” as well as previous in-house LTV documentaries.

Registration will be on the LTV website, ltveh.org, starting on May 14, 2025.