Emerald Ash Borer

We here at Tree Doctors are trying to spread awareness of a very grave danger to GTA Ash trees. Please read.

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has recently been detected in the City of Toronto. The EAB is an invading pest from Asia that attacks and kills all species of ash trees.

All ash trees in Toronto are at risk of dying from this infestation. Mortality may occur in as short a period as one year, however, death normally occurs within 2-3 years of a tree becoming infested. The recent tree canopy study estimates that there are 860,000 ash trees in total on public and private lands. The initial areas of infestation detected in 2007 are likely to lose most of their ash trees by 2012. EAB will eventually spread to the rest of Toronto, killing most ash trees in the City by about 2015 – 2017.

The City of Toronto has a plan (Link: EAB staff report) to manage the impact of EAB on Toronto`s urban forest. Quarantine is established around Toronto and most of southern and southwestern Ontario. There are new prohibitions and restrictions of movement on nursery stock, trees, leaves, logs, lumber, wood, wood chips and bark chips from all ash species and for firewood of all species.

 

Check your trees as soon as possible! Here are some useful links.

How to identify Ash Trees(PDF)

City of London ash tree identification documen

City of Toronto Infestation Map

 

Q&A Links:

 General Informationabout EAB (including information for property owners)

 Toronto’s EAB Infestation

 Managing the Impact of EAB

EAB Pest Biology

Regulation & Disposal of Ash Tree and Material

 

Learn more about the Emerald Ash Borer:

City of Toronto EAB Staff Report

City of Toronto EAB Poster

Canadian Forest Service “A Visual Guide to Detecting Emerald Ash Borer Damage”(PDF)

Canadian Forest Service “Survey Guide to Detection of Emerald Ash Borer”(PDF)