Public Meeting on Emerald Ash Borer to Feature ‘Slow-the-Spread’ Recommendations
On Wednesday, July 11, State and Federal officials will host a public meeting in Montpelier about emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive insect recently discovered in Vermont. Those attending the meeting will have the opportunity to learn about EAB, implications of the statewide quarantine, infested wood disposal options, “slow-the-spread” recommendations, and guidance for landowners, forest professionals and municipalities.
Representatives from the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR) and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM), in cooperation with the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and the USDA Forest Service (USFS) will host the meeting and will be available to answer questions.
EAB larvae kill ash trees by tunneling under the bark and feeding on the part of the tree that moves water and sugars up and down the trunk. It was first discovered in North America in the Detroit area in 2002, and over the past sixteen years it has decimated ash populations in over 30 states. Ash trees comprise approximately 5% of Vermont forests and are also a very common and important urban tree. EAB threatens white ash, green ash and black ash in Vermont and could have significant ecological, cultural, and economic impacts.
Since its initial discovery in Vermont in February, EAB has been confirmed in Orange, Washington, and Caledonia counties. Following a recent detection of EAB in nearby North Adams, Massachusetts, residents of Stamford, Vermont and surrounding towns are urged to be on the lookout for the insect. That most recent detection was reported to Vermont officials by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Although it may be hard to see, EAB is expected to be present in many locations within five miles of the known infestation in North Adams and the insect may spread one to two miles annually on its own. Moving any infested material, especially ash firewood, logs, and pruning debris, results in faster spread to uninfested areas, so it is critical Vermonters follow the ”slow-the-spread” recommendations. One important recommendation is to only buy local firewood.
For more information on how you can help slow the spread:
-
See the current map of the infested zone and find more EAB information at www.vtinvasives.org
-
Spread the word, not the bug by watching this video: https://bit.ly/2lZ9flo