How Emerald Ash Borer Brought Us Together. Jim Zwack, M.S. The Davey Institute

Transcription

1 How Emerald Ash Borer Brought Us Together Jim Zwack, M.S. The Davey Institute

2 What Brings People Together? The only times we ever get together are for weddings and funerals

3 What Brings People Together? Big events Bad events Rare events

4 What Brings People Together? In urban forestry and arboriculture: Events like PCF, Biomechanics week, etc. Do people come together for aphids, leafhoppers, leaf spots, etc.?

5 People Come Together for EAB Ash Trees

6 Why the Big Deal over EAB? Infestations in Canada and 17 US states million trees killed Approximately 7.5 billion ash in the US Greater in scope than Dutch Elm Disease On the move

7 September 2012 EAB Distribution

8 This is Why the Big Deal! 100 Ash Mortality from EAB Percent Mortality Years After First EAB Infestation Based on data from Dan Herms, Ohio State University

9 Detroit Epicenter of EAB What just hit us??? 100 Ash Mortality from EAB Percent Mortality Years After First EAB Infestation

10 Detroit Epicenter of EAB Discovered in 2002 Virtually all ash in Detroit are gone except for those that have been treated Treatments were essentially experimental Management Options that Remain: Replanting Species diversification

11 Fort Wayne, IN Actively Engaged in the Worst of EAB 100 Ash Mortality from EAB Percent Mortality Years After First EAB Infestation

12 Discovered in 2006 Fort Wayne, IN Performed an inventory and tree assessment At the onset of EAB Fort Wayne had about 16,000 municipal ash trees These trees provided an annual green benefit of approximately $1.2 million (i-tree)

13 Fort Wayne, IN By 2011 there were 11,500 ash left About 3,700 removals in 2011 About 5,000 slated for removal in ,000 trees treated for 1 year lost funding Good sense of what to do Little support to get traction Treating approximately 1,000 trees annually

14 Fort Wayne, IN Management Options that Remain: Replacement with an eye for diversity Risk prevention threatens replacement budgets The risk of lawsuits from falling limbs is real Removal Several thousand standing dead trees Several thousand more next year Treatment Continue preservation on about 1000 important trees Public awareness/education

15 Chicagoland A Range of Pressure 100 Ash Mortality from EAB Percent Mortality Years After First EAB Infestation

16 EAB discovered in Illinois in 2006 Evanston Wilmette Winnetka Batavia Elburn St. Charles Lilly Lake

17 Components of EAB Management Education Of public officials, decision makers, private citizens Inventory/Assessment Define the scope of problem Establish an economic conversation Management Plan/Decision Making Treatments To save trees To stage removals for later budget cycles Removals Replacement

18 An Inverse Relationship 100 Ash Mortality from EAB Percent Mortality Years After First EAB Infestation

19 Getting Attention Many entities have taken notice of EAB Not all of them are used to dealing with tree issues or each other Here are 12:

20 Citizen Groups Federal Agencies Municipal Foresters Vendors Elected Officials and Finance People Non-Profits EAB Private Companies Consultants Universities and Researchers Utilities Industry Affiliates (e.g. SMA) The Media

21 #1. EAB Information Network

22 EAB Information Network Lead entities: United States Dept of Agriculture Michigan State University Ohio State University Purdue University Brings Together: Homeowners/Citizen Groups Municipalities Private Companies Researchers Outcomes: Unbiased source of info Clearinghouse for EAB info

23 #2. Coalition for Urban Ash Tree Conservation We the undersigned strongly endorse ash tree conservation as a critical component of integrated programs to manage emerald ash borer (EAB) in residential and municipal landscapes. Cost-effective and environmentally sound EAB treatment protocols are now available that can bring healthy ash through peak pest pressure with full, functioning canopy.

24

25 Coalition for Urban Ash Tree Conservation Lead entity: Valent U.S.A. Corp. Brings Together: Municipalities Private Companies Researchers Industry Affiliates Consultants Non-profits Outcomes: Consensus document First ever of its kind

26 #3. Municipal EAB Symposium Field Tour of Insecticide Research Trials Application Demo How to Create and Implement a Public Relations Plan Learn How to Build a Practical EAB Management Plan

27 Municipal EAB Symposium and Field Day Hazel Crest, IL Sept 2012 Lead entities: The Morton Arboretum Village of Hazel Crest USDA APHIS/Forest Service The Davey Institute Rainbow Treecare Brings Together: Elected officials Finance people and controllers Universities/Researchers Media Outcomes: Movement decision making

28 #4. Utility Arborist Association EAB Summit EAB and ash failures Impacts to reliability Budget/workload Hazard tree / risk management

29 Utility Arborist Association EAB Summit Wooster, Ohio - June 2012 Lead entity: Utility Arborist Association Brings Together: Utilities Researchers Vendors Municipalities Private companies Outcomes: Connections between different parts of Arboriculture

30 Next Steps What to do with all this? What have we learned? EAB management perspectives vary among people because their goals are different With different goals, alignment over the facts is critical As you plan your next steps, be proactive to build your network

31 Different perspectives about EAB Municipal Responses Private Company Responses Avg. Obstacle to Best EAB Management Avg. Obstacle to Best EAB Management 8.8 Denial/Apathy 8.9 City/Town unwilling to spend money to treat trees 8.7 Inconsistent messages/recommendations (Ext, DNR, Ag) 8.7 Belief that tree removal is less expensive than treatment 8.5 City/Town unwilling to spend money to treat trees 8.7 Lack of planning tools (i.e. removal vs treatment) 8.3 Lack of awareness about the benefits of ash trees 7.7 Lack of inventory/info about ash burden 8.0 Lack of inventory/info about ash burden 7.7 Fear of backlash over the use of insecticides 7.8 Fear of backlash over the use of insecticides 7.7 Misinformation spread by companies/groups 7.8 Concern over toxicity/impact of insecticides 7.4 Lack of awareness about the benefits of ash trees 7.8 Lack of awareness about scope of problem 7.3 Denial/Apathy 7.8 Misinformation in news media 7.3 Inconsistent messages/recommendations (Ext, DNR, Ag) 7.5 Belief that tree removal is less expensive than treatment 7.1 Concern over toxicity/impact of insecticides 7.5 Misinformation spread by companies/groups 6.9 Misinformation in news media 7.0 Lack of planning tools (i.e. removal vs treatment) 6.7 Lack of awareness about scope of problem 6.5 Lack of awareness of public safety risks 6.6 Belief insecticides are not effective 4.8 Belief insecticides are not effective 6.4 Lack of awareness of public safety risks

32 Take Away Messages Ask yourself a series of questions: How many ash do I have? When EAB is all over with, what will it look like? Do I have community canopy initiatives? What does the public want? What is the motivation of the Council? Mayor? CFO? Your goals drive your decision making Your place on the curve drives decision making The further along the curve, the fewer choices Build your network now!

33 Good Luck! Be Safe. Jim Zwack, M.S. The Davey Institute