Image 1. Dieback of an Ash Tree
Image 2. Pesticide injection on an Ash Tree
The Cost of Environmental Protection Against The Emerald Ash Borer
The Cost of Environmental Protection against the Emerald Ash Borer
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) got to the United States from wood packaging material brought by ships from Asia. It first Showed up in Michigan in 2002 and has spread to 10 states since. EAB is a beetle that bores its larvae seeds in the cambial layer of Ash trees and the larvae feed on the cambia, which in turn girdles branches and causes die back of the foliage (image 1.). When the larvae become adults they bore their way out leaving D shaped holes in the tree and can fly about a half mile away to feed on foliage and plant new seeds in other Ash trees. There is great difficulty in trying to prevent the spread of EAB and since it is a relatively new pest experts are still learning what can be done to stop and prevent the spread. The beetle has killed so many trees in the areas affected that it has cost municipalities tremendous amounts of money to take down the dead trees. Also large tracts of forests have been infected and have been clear cut well outside those infected areas to help stop EAB from jumping and infecting uninfected trees.
The cost of protecting our Ash trees against this invasive pest is outweighed by the importance of preserving these trees. I believe that we need to fight this invasive pest and try to preserve our Ash trees no matter what the cost. If we lose the ability to be able to plant Ash trees in such a large part of the U.S. it will be a great loss to our country and its citizens. The removal of dead Ash trees in municipalities has put a large strain on their budgets. The same has been true for logging companies and landowners that have had to cut down large stands of Ash to get rid of the dead and try to stop the pest. I think that all levels of the government need to put much more into coming up with a solution to try to eradicate EAB.
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) got to the United States from wood packaging material brought by ships from Asia. It first Showed up in Michigan in 2002 and has spread to 10 states since. EAB is a beetle that bores its larvae seeds in the cambial layer of Ash trees and the larvae feed on the cambia, which in turn girdles branches and causes die back of the foliage (image 1.). When the larvae become adults they bore their way out leaving D shaped holes in the tree and can fly about a half mile away to feed on foliage and plant new seeds in other Ash trees. There is great difficulty in trying to prevent the spread of EAB and since it is a relatively new pest experts are still learning what can be done to stop and prevent the spread. The beetle has killed so many trees in the areas affected that it has cost municipalities tremendous amounts of money to take down the dead trees. Also large tracts of forests have been infected and have been clear cut well outside those infected areas to help stop EAB from jumping and infecting uninfected trees.
The cost of protecting our Ash trees against this invasive pest is outweighed by the importance of preserving these trees. I believe that we need to fight this invasive pest and try to preserve our Ash trees no matter what the cost. If we lose the ability to be able to plant Ash trees in such a large part of the U.S. it will be a great loss to our country and its citizens. The removal of dead Ash trees in municipalities has put a large strain on their budgets. The same has been true for logging companies and landowners that have had to cut down large stands of Ash to get rid of the dead and try to stop the pest. I think that all levels of the government need to put much more into coming up with a solution to try to eradicate EAB.
Some would argue that we should just let the borer takes its course and maybe it will stop spreading and the Ash trees will come back strong again, or the borer will just wipe out all of the Ash trees in the U.S. I argue that if we let this happen there will be very few if not any Ash trees left and it will drastically change the landscape in both the urban and natural environments. Ash trees are very commonly used in the urban environment. In 2004 it was estimated that around 15 million Ash trees are either dying or have been killed by EAB (Haack, Jendak). "The 600,000 Ash trees in Chicago alone make up 14.4% of the total leaf cover and are valued at $231 million" (Haack, Jendak). The loss of those trees will not just be their beauty but those places that will lose those trees will have an increase in utility costs as a result of lost benefits from the trees.
The Ash trees that are in the U.S. are one of America’s treasures and need to be preserved and not killed by some foreign invader. I believe it is necessary to do what is needed to help protect these trees. Trees in the urban landscape increase the property values, provide shade, cooling, and contribute greatly to the quality of life in a neighborhood (Herms, McCullough). The cost of environmental protection should not be an issue here for the Ash trees because if we do nothing then it will turn out like the American Elm which is almost non existent except for saplings before they die.
Works Cited:
1. Haack RA, Jendak E, Houping L, Marchant KR. Michigan EntomologicalSociety. The Emerald Ash Borer: A New Exotic Pest in North America. Accessed online February 4, 2010:http://nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/jrnl/2002/nc_2002_Haack_001.pdf
2. Herms D, McCullough D, Smitley D, Sadof C, Williamson R, Nixon P."Insecticide options for protecting Ash Trees From Emerald Ash Borer". North Central IPM Center Bulletin. (2009): P 1-12.
3. Emerald Ash Borer. Accessed online February 2, 2010:http://www.emeraldashborer.info/.
4. Plant Health: Emerald Ash Borer. Accessed online Frebruary 8, 2010:http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/emerald_ash_b/index.shtml.
5. Forest Health Protection-Emerald Ash Borer. Accessed online February 3, 2010.http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/eab/.
It seems recently many tree species like the American Chestnut, American Elm, and Hemlock along with the Ash tree have been threatened. With limited amounts of funding available for these treatments, what is to say that the Ash tree warrants more attention than other species? There are also invasive species like the gypsy moth that can affect several species of trees. Would research funding go to a greater cause if it was used to find ways to eliminate pests that can harm more than one species? The Ash tree is in a lot of urban environments, and even if you these trees, it seems species options are limited. I think there should be research on developing a type of aesthetically pleasing, but extremely hardy, and resistant hybrid that would be ideal for urban settings. The Ash tree is a part of nation’s history and loosing it in forest settings would disrupt wildlife so I do think efforts to save the tree should be made. My only concern is possibly wasting a bunch of money trying to save the trees in urban environments when it’s a lost cause, just replace them and try again with a new species.
ReplyDeleteI would hardly say any money spent on any scientific research is a waste of money no matter how dire the situation. The Chestnut is all but extinct but hybrids are being made, American elm has resistant strains and new hybrids are coming out every year. The main concern here is not how much money the research will cause or how to preserve the species because personally I believe we can do this quite easily, but how to preserve the communities with a great deal of these target species of tree in them. Because there is always a threat of invasive species there are two rules of thumb to follow when planning and planting an urban forest. These two rules are Richard's Age model and Santamour's Species diversity model which basically give a break down of what kind of species and how big you want them. this protects urban forest as a whole so that they may be able to sustain a blow from an invasive species which is very important. The hard part to realize is not every urban forest follows this rule as well as well even has an urban forestry program. This is where work must be done in order to protect not only a species but an entire forest. we do not want to have to cut down whole rows of beautiful trees and have the cycle continue. the more research the better and the more diversity the better.
ReplyDelete- Donny Hayes