EAB Management-Why Plan Now

Communities At Risk
All Ohio communities are at risk for an EAB infestation, but some have higher risk levels than others. Communities located near known infestations, major roadways, tourist areas, or campgrounds have increased probability that EAB could be introduced through travelers toting firewood. Other factors contributing to community risk are sawmills, tree care companies, and even nurseries that could unknowingly import infested ash tree material in their daily operations.

It is important to realize that ash trees infested by EAB, including healthy trees, die in three to five years and quickly become safety hazards. It is critical for a community to prevent its streets from being littered with dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of dying ash trees threatening to topple onto streets, homes, vehicles, or even citizens. Therefore, developing and implementing an EAB Management Plan before EAB infests a community offers a proactive alternative to costly damages and emergency clean up (examples). It justifies expenditures and shows citizens that community leaders are wisely using tax dollars.

Elements of an EAB Management Plan
In order to manage a resource, you must know what you have. Communities can do this by utilizing an existing tree inventory or doing an ash tree inventory to locate the trees and document their current condition. Other basic elements communities should outline in a management plan include budgeting, tree removal, wood utilization/disposal, replanting efforts, follow-up tree care, and policy about how private trees will be addressed. Let’s not forget that someone needs to administer your program and that public education and communication are important components in the success of any program.

Assistance Is Available
The Ohio Division of Forestry has developed a template to help communities get started on an EAB Management Plan. Regional urban foresters are available to assist communities in developing a customized plan based on local needs and goals. Every plan is different, depending on each community’s unique situation. Emerald Ash Borer is not an easy pest to manage, but planning will certainly help take some of the guessing out of the equation.

Ohio’s Ash Population
When Emerald Ash Borer was first discovered in Ohio (2003), the only available hard data for the number of ash trees came from the USDA Forest Service’s Forest Inventory & Analysis (FIA) Program. This was data last released in 1991.

At that time, the Forest Service listed Ohio as having 3.8 billion white ash trees. When, adding the relative percentage of green, blue, and pumpkin ash in our state, that led to a number of just greater than 5 billion total ash trees in Ohio. These numbers represent all sizes of trees, including seedlings.

The Forest Service has released its latest FIA data for our state and they are now using a new data collection process that does not count all trees. The new system counts only trees that are at least one inch in diameter. This new data indicates a total of more than 254 million ash trees (all species) one inch in diameter and greater*.  The new Forest Service counting method accounts only for the economically significant number of trees.

* USDA Forest Service - 2006 Forest Inventory Analysis Program

What do I need to know about firewood?
Emerald Ash Borer can become established when infested firewood is transported to new areas. Help stop the movement of exotic pests. DO NOT MOVE FIREWOOD.

Who should I contact?

• ODNR Division of Forestry
  Service Forester
  Urban Forester
  1-877-247-8733

• Ohio Department of Agriculture
  Phone: EAB Hotline - (888) OHIO-EAB
  Plant Pest Control Section - (614) 728-6400
  Plant Industry Division - (614) 728-6270
  Ohio Department of Agriculture - (614) 728-6200

• Mail:
  Ohio Department of Agriculture
  Plant Industry Division, Emerald Ash Borer
  East Main Street
  Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-3399

• Email:
  EAB Section: eab@mail.agri.state.oh.us
  
  

  Below is a typical Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) inquiry the Ohio Division of Forestry receives.
   
  Q: We have several ash trees that have been killed by the emerald ash borer. We are wondering what we can do with the trees after we cut them down. Are we allowed to sell them as firewood? We know we can’t burn them as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has regulations regarding burning near inhabited buildings.
   
  A: Because the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) has extended the EAB quarantine statewide, you can move and sell your cut ash anywhere in Ohio.
   
  However, ODA and Division of Forestry recommend that people limit the movement of firewood when they sell or buy it to protect against the spread of all wood-borne pests, including the emerald ash borer and gypsy moth.
   
  EAB regulated articles can move freely within contiguous quarantined areas, except interstate movement into the protected areas.