WLEB EAB Private Woodland Owners Program

With the continued spread of the emerald ash borer (EAB) in Ohio, private woodland owners, local communities and the wood industry need help managing resources that are at-risk to EAB.   This is particularly true for woodland owners in Northwest Ohio where EAB has already killed or significantly impacted ash populations.   With funding provided through US Forest Service, Service Foresters working within the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) are focusing efforts to assist landowners with managing their ash resource.  

Service foresters will encourage woodland owners to be proactive in their ash resource management and take appropriate management actions prior to EAB infesting their property. Service foresters will promote crop tree release practices to favor non-ash species, reduce ash composition, as well as recommend the removal of merchantable ash and other hardwood species when appropriate. 

These foresters will also work cooperatively with the State Forest Management Program to demonstrate ash management and utilization strategies on state forest land in order to increase awareness of available management options to private forest owners. Service foresters can use two state forests in northern Ohio - Maumee and Mohican-Memorial State Forest for educational purposes to demonstrate ash tree reduction techniques through crop tree release and timber stand improvement practices.