EAB on Our Doorstep

On July 15th the emerald ash borer, a bark boring beetle frequently referred to as EAB, was discovered in Ulster County.  Those who follow the movement of invasive species were not surprised.  We have resigned ourselves to an epic battle to preserve our forests in which we know the EAB will win the first fight.  It will not be eradicated given the resources we currently have available.  It is virtually impossible to detect until it is present in large numbers and it can move up to about a half mile in a year.  While we can’t beat it outright, we are not going to sit idly by and watch it wash through our forests.  Nature has a way of restoring order, to some extent.  If we can help SLOW the spread, providing time for the rearing of biocontrol species (a pest or pathogen that attacks an unwanted species), then the destruction of the EAB may be minimized and more manageable.

Last week Alan wrote a blog entry about partnerships.  One of the partnerships that the Catskill Center is actively involved in is CRISP, The Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership.  Through CRISP we are working with various state agencies and representatives from a large number of other organizations throughout the region to coordinate efforts to stop the spread of invasive species and respond to early introductions of new species, as well as provide outreach information for management of established invasive species.

We are posting information as it becomes available on a new EAB Update webpage.  Please help us to protect the Catskill Region from forest pests like the emerald ash borer.  Here are a few things you can do:

1.    Don’t move firewood!  There are regulations in place that are designed to keep these pests contained.  Visit the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation webpage to educate yourself on the rules: http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/28722.html

2.    Eyes on Ash!  Learn to identify ash trees and keep an eye on those in your backyard. Check out the ID sheets on the EAB Update Page.  By knowing where the beetle is, we can better anticipate where it will turn up next and concentrate our efforts to slow its move.

3.    Attend the CRISP sponsored EAB/ALB Identification and Survey Workshop next week, Tues. August 3 – Thur. August 5 in Newburgh, NY.  For more details click here.

Keep checking back to learn more about the status of the new discovery in Ulster County.

What else do you think we could be doing to spread the word about EAB?