Pest Alert: Emerald Ash Borer in Ottawa

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive, alien beetle that kills ash trees, and was discovered last summer by City staff within the St-Laurent Boulevard and Ogilvie Road area. The beetle continues to devastate ash forests in the United States and Canada and biological, chemical and mechanical methods of killing the beetle and its larvae have been expensive and met with limited success. This invasive beetle does not spread quickly and is most commonly spread when people move infested materials such as firewood, branches, nursery stock, chips or other ash wood. The City is asking residents to help stop the spread of the EAB by only buying and using local firewood and refraining from moving firewood.

For more information: http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/healthy_lawns/forestry/index_en.html

For immediate release: April 28, 2009

Federal order issued to limit spread of EAB from Ottawa and Gatineau

Ottawa - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has taken action to limit the spread of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) by issuing a ministerial order to prohibit movement of firewood, and ash-tree products such as nursery stock, logs, branches and wood chips from the cities of Ottawa and Gatineau to any other surrounding regions.

The Emerald Ash Borer is a metallic and green-coloured beetle responsible for the demise of millions of ash trees in the northern United States and Canada. Its presence in Ottawa was first confirmed in July 2008 in the vicinity of the junction of Highway 417 and St. Laurent Boulevard.

"The Emerald Ash Borer poses a serious threat to our forest cover in both urban and rural Ottawa," says Peter Hume, Chair of the City's Planning and Environment Committee. "About 25 per cent of the region�s tree canopy consists of ash trees. I urge all residents to learn about the Emerald Ash Borer and limit its spread by obeying the ministerial order. The City has a plan to manage the impact of the Emerald Ash Borer and will begin an extensive program of planting new trees this spring in areas where we have an abundance of ash trees."

To prepare for this order and to manage the invasive beetle on a regional scale, the City established a task force in November 2008. Led by the City's Forestry Services branch and the Eastern Ontario Model Forest, members include representatives from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Natural Resources Canada, Public Works and Government Services Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, the National Capital Commission, Tree Canada and local conservation authorities.

"To have so many partners, including all levels of government, committed to limiting the spread of EAB is a very positive sign for our region," says Jim McCready, co-chair of the EAB Task Force, President of the Eastern Ontario Model Forest and Program Forester for Tree Canada. "We all have a role to play in preventing the spread of EAB and collaboration is going to be important in controlling the infestation and communicating with the public."

The City has consulted with developers and other groups, urging the planting of trees other than ash. In addition, the City's Forestry unit is limiting the trimming, cutting and removal of ash products between May and September, during EAB flight season.

Slowing down the spread of infestation is considered the most effective way to deal with EAB and protect some of the region's landmark areas including the Greenbelt and Gatineau Park. The beetle has few known natural enemies and limited treatment options exist.

EAB is strictly regulated by the federal government as a plant pest under the Plant Protection Act. The pest does not move far on its own even with an ability to fly, but can quickly spread by the movement and transportation of infested ash products and firewood.

"Residents can play a part in protecting our vulnerable ash trees," says David Barkley the City's Manager of Forestry Services. "By not moving or transporting ash products or firewood of any kind, we can limit the spread of EAB, protecting and preserving landmark areas such as the Greenbelt or Gatineau Park. If you need firewood, buy it locally. If you're going to a cottage or campsite, buy your wood there and burn it all before you leave. Moving a single piece of infested wood could have dire consequences for our regional forests."

The task force is recommending a balanced approach to slow the spread and manage the impact of the EAB. This includes raising awareness and understanding of the ministerial order and its regulations, helping the public identify infested ash trees and informing residents about treatment options and how to safely remove, dispose and replace infested trees and other ash products.

For more information on EAB, please visit ottawa.ca/eab or contact the City of Ottawa at 3-1-1. To report an EAB infestation, contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency at 1-866-463-6017.

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For more information:

Media contact: 613-580-2450

Public inquiries: 3-1-1

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