Ontario gears up defense against EAB havoc

OTTAWA (Scrap Monster) : As per studies, the Emerald Ash Borer(EAB) pain is likely to massively hit the ash trees of Ontario in the next three to five years.

The EAB is said to have arrived here almost 15 years back. There are 22 species of EAB in Ontario-the common ones being the white, green and black ash. EAB can be controlled using TreeAzin, a ‘biologically based’ liquid that is injected into the tree by licensed professionals. The cost of treatment for an average ‘mature’ sized ash of 40 centimetres in diameter, measured at 1.2 metres high, is between $250 and $300 per tree/per treatment. The cost has come down in the past year by about 25 per cent.

It is injected into the tree, near its base any time from June through August. The tree ‘takes the product up’ through the rise in sap that occurs naturally. Under normal circumstances, a tree will need to be treated every two years, three or four times for effective control. Test treatments have indicated that permanent control of EAB is possible with the recommended three or four applications.

Kitchener and Ontario are gearing up for the battle against the attacks on its forest wealth by Emerald ash borer-a category of beetle from Asia.

Ash trees along the Kitchener streets are either cut off or are injected with pesticides. It is reported that City workers cut down nearly 600 ash trees along the streets last week. The highly destructive beetle was first spotted in Kitchener in 2010. The damages caused by the beetle are enormous and the losses are too big. There are about 4,500 ash trees along city streets and another 2,000 or so in parks. It is predicted that the ash borer beetle might destroy 80% of the ash trees in five years time.

The city has devised a master plan to replace the ones cut down. Kitchener will spend $430,000 to cut down and remove ash trees this year. An almost equal sum of money will be spent towards planting new trees. The city plans to spend $11 million to counter the effects caused by beetle attacks. It has already set aside $4.3 million for removal of ash trees and pesticide treatment for the remaining. Another $6.7 million will be spent over a span of 10 years.

The city of Waterloo has also devised its own strategies in fighting the attacks. The ash borer attack has been around for almost five years now. The city has set aside huge sums of money, mainly towards planting new trees. The city is planting around 3000 trees per year.

London plans to spend around $400,000 this year. The city which has around 10,000 ash trees was first detected with ash bore beetle way back in 2006.

 Burlington estimates to spending to exceed $10 million during the next 10 years, Brampton $22 million, Hamilton $37 million, Mississauga $51 and Richmond Hill $12.5 million.