Virginia Association of Forest Health Professionals

VAFHP is the evolution from the Association of Virginia Gypsy Moth Managers (AVGMM).

 

Section 1 – The Past:

• AVGMM was developed in the late 1980s in response to the emergence of the gypsy moth caterpillar in northern Virginia.The federal, state and municipal governments organized a defensive plan to adapt to the presence of this new pest.

 

• AVGMM was developed by and for the municipal level governments to train, license and help organize the local coordinators.

 

• All operational requirements for running AVGMM were provided by the individual municipal government programs.

 

• As the gypsy moth populations diminished in the late 1990s, AVGMM expanded the support to include other forest pests.

 

Section 2 – The Present:

• In 2007 it was decided that AVGMM had progressed beyond its original mission. AVGMM dissolved in 2008, replaced by VAFHP.

 

• VAFHP will carry on with the educational functions of the former AVGMM.

 

Section 3 – Planned Activities:

• VAFHP will focus on supporting the urban and rural forest health professionals in the region of Virginia and sharing information with other states.