Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive, highly destructive wood-boring beetle that targets and fatally injures all species of ash (Fraxinus spp.) trees. Since its detection in 2002 in eastern Canada and the United States, EAB has destroyed tens of millions of ash trees across North America. Alberta’s urban forest canopies and rural ash shelterbelts are now at risk and immediate action is needed. Early detection is vital. Ash trees have been the preferred boulevard and shelterbelt tree, second only to elm species, for their cold-hardiness and ideal canopy shape for decades. They are essential for sustaining biodiversity, resulting in resilient, interconnected ecosystems. They provide foundational ecoservices/relational values that support our quality of life. By identifying the signs and symptoms of EAB early, community-based monitoring and reporting can trigger rapid and targeted response measures giving us the best chance to slow its spread. Monitoring can be as simple as walking your neighbourhood or mapping out a route using municipal open data sets of inventories, downloading our field monitoring form and reporting priority symptoms and/or signs of pest infestation. Please visit the project website for extensive pest and project information on how we can work together!
Emerald Ash Borer Community Monitoring Project
