Emerald Ash Borer Risk Management Trainings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 8, 2009

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a small, (1/2-inch long, 1/8-inch wide) metallic green beetle native to Asia. Discovered in Illinois in 2006, it has since spread throughout northeast Illinois and remote locations in and around LaSalle and Bloomington. EAB feeds only on members of the Fraxinus genus or true Ash trees. If trees go untreated, the death rate is 100 percent. If infested trees are not treated or removed, EAB will continue its destructive path moving on to other ash trees—eventually wiping out all Ash trees.

Ash make up a large percentage of our green canopy both as public street trees and forested areas. EAB destruction of Ash trees will have a huge impact on our urban landscapes for years to come.

EAB control, ash tree removal and replacement can be expensive, and weigh heavy on the budget. Towns, villages, cities, parks, golf courses, arboreta, cemeteries, and school campuses need to be prepared. The first step is positive identification of ash trees and the EAB. Once found, state and federal quarantines may be implemented and can affect removal and transportation of the wood.

University of Illinois Extension is offering six all-day EAB Risk Management trainings for municipal officials, community tree board members, county board representatives, city arborists, commercial arborists, parks and recreation officials and their employees, IDOT, and green-industry commercial personnel. This training is not for the general public. If you are unsure if you should attend please contact your local University of Illinois Extension office in Henderson County (309) 924-1163, Mercer County (309) 582-5106, or Warren County (309) 734-5161. For more program information contact Martha Smith, (309) 836-2363.

There is no charge for the program but registration is required. Registration will be taken up to one week before the meeting date.

• November 2 – University of Illinois Extension Rock Island County office
• November 3 – Wildlife Prairie State Park
• Nov. 4 – University of Illinois Extension Sangamon County office
• November 17 – Collinsville Area Recreational District Activity Center
• November 18 – University of Illinois Extension Effingham County office
• December 1 – University of Illinois Extension Champaign County office

Source: Martha A. Smith, University of Illinois Extension. Macomb Center, #309-836-2363, smithma@illinois.edu