The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) was initially detected in North America around Detroit in 2002 and has since spread to 13 states and two Canadian provinces, killing hundreds of millions of Ash trees in rural and urban settings. The natural spread of EAB is slow; often less than five miles per year. However, the only explanation for the rapid and long-distance dispersal that has occurred since 2002 is the long distance movement of firewood and infested nursery stock by people.
In June, 2009, EAB was detected in Randolph, NY prompting the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Dept. of Agriculture & Markets to implement a quarantine for Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties which prohibits the movement of ash seedlings, trees, logs, boards, wood chips and other plant parts within and beyond these counties without certification or compliance agreements issue by DAM. There is also a new DEC regulation in place that limits the transportation of all untreated firewood to no more than 50 miles from its source and prohibits the importation of firewood into NYS unless it is heat treated to kill EAB or other potentially invasive species.
Jeff Rupp, Master Forest Owner, surveying damaged ash tree.
Photo: Lynn Bliven
Last summer, CCE Allegany/Cattaraugus partnered with Cornell’s Department of Natural Resources, NYS DEC, NYS Dept. of Agriculture and Markets and APHIS to provide two public educational meetings to educate landowners and professionals about EAB. Free diagnostic services were also provided to residents who submitted insect samples. Over 200 participants, representing private homeowners, forestry, landscape/nursery businesses, government agencies and educational institutions attended.
“It is not a question of if it (EAB) gets here, but when.” states Mark Whitmore, a Forest Entomologist in the Dept. of Natural Resources. “This beetle has the potential to forever change the face of our forests and the impact will be felt by all communities in New York.” Ash trees comprise about 10% of the trees in NY’s hardwood forests and provide specialty products like tool handles and baseball bats. Ash trees are even more valuable in urban areas because they are commonly planted along streets and in landscaping.
NYS Extension Forester, Peter Smallidge, recently reported that the Dept. of Natural Resources has received funding through USDA-APHIS to implement an outreach program through CCE which will provide public education and free yes/no screening of suspect beetles or tree damage brought into CCE Association offices throughout NYS. CCE educators, Master Gardeners and Master Forest Owners will be trained to engage local stakeholders, communities and local government officials in an educational effort to increase awareness of the EAB and to begin planning for EAB arrival by developing Community Action Plans and using an early detection-rapid response approach called Slow Ash Mortality (SLAM) which is currently showing great promise in Michigan. CCE has recommendations for homeowners and woodland owners.
It’s hard to imagine baseball without the sweet crack of an ash bat slapping the ball over the center field fence, but that is a distinct possibility if we can’t slow the spread of EAB and buy the time necessary to research potential solutions.
To learn more, visit the Emerald Ash Borer page in the NY Invasive Species Clearinghouse.
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