Managing the emerald ash borer

Managing The Emerald Ash Borer

What is EAB? • It is a non-native, highly destructive beetle that was discovered in North America in 2002 • Confirmed in Gatineau 2009, Chelsea in fall 2012, and spreading fast across North America • Attacks only true ash species (Fraxinus spp.)

How does EAB spread?

• EAB is able to fly; adult lays eggs under bark • BUT, since its spread has been primarily along major transport routes, it is clear that humans are the main cause • Public “Don’t Move Firewood” campaign, but the pest is still spreading at an alarming rate

What is the impact of EAB? • Most destructive forest pest in North America, killing tens of millions of ash • No hope for eradication, focus is on management • Gatineau park only contains about 3% ash, but urban and residential areas have a greater canopy

What can I do as an individual?

• NEVER move ash trees/firewood • Indentify infected trees • Report sightings to government officials • Prepare a plan for the ash trees on your property

Identifying ash trees

Tree symptoms • loss of green colour in the uppermost leaves (chlorosis) • thinning and dieback of the crown

Tree symptoms • Epicormic sprouts (sucker shoots)

Identifying EAB

Reporting your findings • Report signs and symptoms of infested trees to the CFIA by phone 1 800 442-2342 (toll free) or online at www.inspection.gc.ca

Make a plan for your ash trees • Do your ash tree/s increase your quality of life? Do dying trees present a liability or hazard? • Options for ash management include: o Treatment with insecticide o Removal o Replanting with new species

Treating ash trees • ONLY effective before heavy infestation • Only legal Canadian product is TreeAzin • Closest provider is antidotearboriculture.ca in Gatineau • Administered in spring; good for 2 seasons

• www.bioforest.ca for info

Live trees treated with insecticide next to untreated trees killed by EAB

Removals • Best option when dying tree poses risk to house/people • Option when homeowner has other trees on lot and doesn’t want to risk failure of injections • DO NOT move the wood

• Best to burn/mulch on site

Replanting Native Species TREE SPECIES

Growth speed

Size

Soil type

Shade Tolerance

Silver Maple

Fast

L

Any – good for clay soil. Will clog underground drainage pipes

Semi

Sugar Maple

Medfast

L

Needs drainage; not good for roadside (salt spray)

Yes

Red Maple

Fast

M/L

Well-drained, moist

Semi

Black Walnut

Med

L

Variety; well-drained; does well on slopes

No

Eastern Red Cedar

Slow

M

Variety; rock to swamp; good for wind No break and soil erosion

Yellow Poplar

Med

L

Acidic, sandy

No

Eastern White Pine

Fast

XL

Any soil type; prefers sand

Semi

Trembling Aspen

Fast

M

Variety (sand, rock, clay)

No

Red Oak

Medfast

M/L

Moist and clay loams – tolerant to salt Semi but not compaction

Did you get a notice from the government about tree disposal? • If you received a notice in the mail before March 31, 2013, you are entitled to apply for reimbursement (deadline Dec 31, 2014).

What can we do as a community?

• Raise awareness about EAB • Educate others how to identify ash

• Form groups to make inventories of public ash trees to determine canopy percentage • Apply for funding for replanting the community

TD Green Streets and Tree Canada • Community creates a plan and budget; TD matches it

• 50% matching funding must come from donations (e.g., municipality, clubs, individuals) • In-kind contributions can be 25% of the total program costs • Must apply by Jan 1, 2014

• They are looking for innovation in urban forest mgmt, community involvement, and technical expertise (that’s me)