EAB: The little-big disaster Sammy Onyeama-Asonye EAB: The little-big disaster

The Emerald Ash Borer– Agrilus planipennis

Dimensions Bright green in colour About a half inch in length Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) kills all species of ash (but not Mountain ash) EAB is easily spread through the movement of firewood, logs and nursery stock (Don’t move firewood!!!!) It has killed a large number of ash trees in North America and poses a major economic and environmental threat to urban and forested areas across Canada and the United States. (Canadian Food Inspection Agency)

Detection & History May 2002 (southeastern Michigan) in the U.S.A; July 2002 (Essex County)in Ontario Native to China and Eastern Asia

What an “Ash” hole? Beetles feed on host tree foliage Eggs are laid bole or branches First instar larvae bore through the bark and feed on the inner bark and the outer sapwood (“S-shaped” galleries) Distinct “D” shape exit hole

What is the importance of ash trees? Ash trees are an important part of Canada's urban and rural landscape. They are commonly found on city streets, in woodlots, in windbreaks and in forests across southern Canada. In many areas of western Canada, ash trees are one of the few suitable for planting in urban areas (CFIA). Ash wood is also used to make furniture, hardwood floors, baseball bats, tool handles, electric guitars, hockey sticks and other materials that require high strength and resilience (CFIA).

Regulated areas (Canada)

Regulated areas (U.S.A)

Importance of trees Citizens see trees as an important measure of the quality of their communities Unlike “grey” infrastructure the value of a properly maintained tree actually increases over its functional lifespan Reduces rain runoff volumes Root growth and decomposition increase the capacity and rate of soil infiltration

Furthermore… Tree canopies reduce soil erosion Shading by trees reduces the amount of radiant energy absorbed and stored by built surfaces Transpiration converts moisture to water vapour cooling the air Based on average cost in 2008, trees in Toronto are estimated to reduce energy costs from residential buildings by 9.7 million annually (City of Toronto)

Public health Trees help reduce asthma rates and reduce UV-B exposure by about 50% (Releaf n.d.). Crime and domestic violence: The urban forest helps build stronger communities. Trees provide settings in which relationships grow stronger and violence is reduced.

… Toronto’s trees store 1.1 million metric tonnes of carbon (or yearly equivalent of 733,00 car emissions) Structural value of Toronto’s forest is estimated at $7.1 billion Mississauga Trees removes nearly 454 tonnes of air pollutants from the air annually, valued at $3.6 million per year. Mississauga’s canopy provides $123 million in carbon storage and sequestration benefits annually

Toronto continued… Published in 2010, the City's tree canopy study, Every Tree Counts, estimated that there were 860,000 ash trees in total on public and private lands. While peak mortality is expected in 2015, most ash trees will die from EAB infestation by 2016-2017.

Mississauga Time of Urban Forestry Canopy (UFC) 1992- 15% UFC city 2007- Assessment estimates 15% UFC citywide 2008 EAB detected in Mississauga 2013- Ice storm ravages Mississauga tree population 2014- 19% UFC citywide

Peel Region Tree Canopy

Kiss your “Ash” goodbye - U.S.A Approximately 15% of the trees that make up Colorado's urban forest are ash. Estimated 98,000 in the city of Boulder alone.  Denver Metro area has an estimated 1.45 million ash trees. EAB is responsible for the death of millions of ash trees in the United States.

In Black and White…

All is not lost! https://trca.ca/conservation/habitat-protection-regeneration/emerald-ash-borer/

Fin! EAB…Clearly a Badash!