September 15, 2011
Communities see high costs as EAB spreads
Throughout this summer, reports continue to show the emerald ash borer (EAB) is spreading its way across North America.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed the latest findings of the pest in the United Counties of Prescott and Russell, near Wendover, just south of Ottawa.
In August, EAB was confirmed in 24 Ontario counties, and in three areas in the province of Quebec, which followed an earlier report that the pest was found in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville in Ontario.
Kitchener announced it will spend $4.7 million over 10 years on its ash tree management plan and the City of Burlington estimates it will spend $10 million over a decade. Toronto is looking at a $1.2 million just this year to handle its ash tree strategy.
Toronto is using injections of TreeAzin. It was estimated that 200 locations across Toronto received the pesticide. Metal tags are attached to the trees marked for treatment.
McEwen stated that, “Eighty to 95 per cent of the trees are projected to die between 2015 and 2017.”
York Region has placed about 250 insect traps in ash trees across southern portion of the region. The prism traps are placed one per square kilometre. The traps have adhesive on the outside surface with a chemical on the inside to attract EAB.
Burlington has more than 8,000 ash trees on city streets and in active park areas. The city is also treating ash trees with TreeAzin. Council budgeted $11 million over the next 10 years to address the issue.
The City of Guelph’s ash trees are being infested by the invasive species. City experts say that within the next five years, unless something is found, there will be very few if any ash trees alive in the city. Ironically, many of the city’s white and green ash trees were planted to replace of the elm trees that were killed from Dutch elm disease.
The Ministry of Natural Resources estimates that it will cost up to $1,000 to remove a dead tree.
In the Town of Oakville there are approximately 180,000 ash trees. That municipality’s forestry services says nearly 80 per cent of the town’s treatable ash tree canopy is located on private property.
Last year, the town was the first in Canada to map all its private ash tree locations. The map of the Town’s ash ash trees can be found at www.oakville.ca/eab.htm.
Oakville is advising residents that there are two options for owners of ash trees: removal or treatment by a certified arborist.
Toronto counsellors Shelley Carroll and Paul Ainslie want city officials to help home-owners find arborists who are qualified to evaluate, treat and remove ash trees. They have requested a report on the feasibility of providing industry training sessions and publicizing a list of participating arborists.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed the latest findings of the pest in the United Counties of Prescott and Russell, near Wendover, just south of Ottawa.
In August, EAB was confirmed in 24 Ontario counties, and in three areas in the province of Quebec, which followed an earlier report that the pest was found in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville in Ontario.
Toronto to replace 860,000 trees
The City of Toronto says it will replace 860,000 ash trees with other species. The city’s manager of urban forest renewal, Beth McEwen, was quoted, “The damage is now becoming quite apparent. The trees that are dying are quite obvious.”Kitchener announced it will spend $4.7 million over 10 years on its ash tree management plan and the City of Burlington estimates it will spend $10 million over a decade. Toronto is looking at a $1.2 million just this year to handle its ash tree strategy.
Toronto is using injections of TreeAzin. It was estimated that 200 locations across Toronto received the pesticide. Metal tags are attached to the trees marked for treatment.
McEwen stated that, “Eighty to 95 per cent of the trees are projected to die between 2015 and 2017.”
York Region has placed about 250 insect traps in ash trees across southern portion of the region. The prism traps are placed one per square kilometre. The traps have adhesive on the outside surface with a chemical on the inside to attract EAB.
Burlington has more than 8,000 ash trees on city streets and in active park areas. The city is also treating ash trees with TreeAzin. Council budgeted $11 million over the next 10 years to address the issue.
The City of Guelph’s ash trees are being infested by the invasive species. City experts say that within the next five years, unless something is found, there will be very few if any ash trees alive in the city. Ironically, many of the city’s white and green ash trees were planted to replace of the elm trees that were killed from Dutch elm disease.
The Ministry of Natural Resources estimates that it will cost up to $1,000 to remove a dead tree.
In the Town of Oakville there are approximately 180,000 ash trees. That municipality’s forestry services says nearly 80 per cent of the town’s treatable ash tree canopy is located on private property.
Last year, the town was the first in Canada to map all its private ash tree locations. The map of the Town’s ash ash trees can be found at www.oakville.ca/eab.htm.
Oakville is advising residents that there are two options for owners of ash trees: removal or treatment by a certified arborist.
Toronto counsellors Shelley Carroll and Paul Ainslie want city officials to help home-owners find arborists who are qualified to evaluate, treat and remove ash trees. They have requested a report on the feasibility of providing industry training sessions and publicizing a list of participating arborists.