Emerald Ash Borer

How communities can approach tree inventories.

An introductory glimpse into how Nebraska communities can prepare for the arrival of the emerald ash borer.

When communities decide to turn their urban wood waste into wood products, it affects all levels of community forest management, beginning with the harvest of urban trees. Traditional harvest of urban trees is costly and very timeintensive. This session will review innovative harvest strategies for urban forests using new technologies and equipment, and reducing both costs and time.

“Waste is the result of a lack of creativity.” While EAB infestations create significant issues for all communities, some communities have developed innovative solutions to remedy their wood waste problem, benefitting both communities and businesses. This session will provide an overview of innovative urban wood utilization initiatives in Nebraska and beyond.

EAB was confirmed in Milwaukee, WI in 2012. Since that time, the City has utilized technology and innovation to address the management needs of EAB on both public and private property. This session will highlight the various management strategies utilized by the city of Milwaukee to address the ongoing EAB infestation in their city.

Needing solutions to urban soil damage, high pH or fertility? Biochar, compost and mulch may be an option. Learn more about these products, how they are made and a way to utilize urban wood waste in horticultural and urban settings.

EAB was confirmed in Milwaukee, WI in 2012. Since that time, the City has utilized technology and innovation to address the management needs of EAB on both public and private property. This session will highlight the various management strategies utilized by the city of Milwaukee to address the ongoing EAB infestation in their city.

When EAB is identified in a new area the conversations quickly turn to, “what do we do with all of the wood?” While it is a daunting question, communities can prepare themselves for the abundance of wood waste. This session will discuss the development of community response plans for utilizing urban wood waste generated as a result of EAB.

2016 marked the discovery of emerald ash borer in Nebraska. How way it discovered? What has been the reaction of community members and leaders in Omaha? This session will discuss what to expect the first year you find emerald ash bore in a community.

Insecticide options have greatly expanded during the past decade. There are a wide range of chemicals and delivery systems available to homeowners, tree care companies and community forestry departments to help manage this insect. This session will cover the various options available and how to decide what is the best approach for different situations.

Emerald ash borer was first discovered in Minnesota near the border between Saint Paul and Minneapolis on May 14th, 2009. This year marks the eighth year since EAB was found in the Twin Cities, and perhaps twice that in terms of arrival of the insect. Management strategies in Minneapolis have evolved over the past 11 years since development of an EAB Preparedness Plan. This presentation will provide a practical perspective of EAB management in an urban setting that will include contentious issues such as widespread tree replacement and pesticide use, as well as successes and failures of the program

Emerald ash borer (EAB) was first discovered in Boulder in 2013. This session will cover how Boulder has responded to the infestation during the past four years. The discussion will cover what they though worked best and what they might have changed.

What happens if we don’t remove trees killed by emerald ash borer? Unlike cottonwoods and other trees that may stand for decades after dying, ashes killed by emerald ash borer soon become unstable and brittle. This means that communities must take prompt action to remove emerald ash borer killed trees before the trees become a hazard to people and property. This session will cover the management of these dead trees.