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Emerald Ash Borer Detected in Buffalo

Emerald Ash BorerThe New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced an infestation of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) was found in the City of Buffalo’s South Park. This is the first EAB infestation to be detected in Erie County. EAB is a small but destructive beetle that infests and kills North American ash tree species, including green, white, black and blue ash.

“The discovery of the Emerald Ash Borer in Buffalo is extremely unfortunate but not surprising,” DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said. “Despite multi-state efforts to curtail its expansion, EAB has spread across the northeastern United States over the last decade. DEC is coordinating with federal and local government partners across the state to prevent the further spread of this destructive insect, especially outside of the quarantine areas.
Awareness and preparedness are our best defenses, both of
which are emphasized in DEC’s strategic Slow Ash Mortality (SLAM) program.”

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Darrel J. Aubertine said, “EAB is a
destructive pest that is unfortunately taking foothold here in New York State. The economic impact of such a pest is tremendous on our forest
products industries, and our parks and tourism industries, and is causing challenges for municipalities. As a state, we are dedicated to combating EAB and will continue to offer “train the trainer” workshops, funded by
USDA APHIS, that enlist citizens and volunteers to survey for this beetle, and which led to this detection.”

DEC, Cornell University, the City of Buffalo and Buffalo Olmsted Parks
Conservancy began collaborative response efforts to address the infestation at South Park immediately after the discovery last week. Initial surveying suggests that less than a dozen trees in South Park show signs of infestation; the trees are located along the park’s perimeter in a natural wooded area.

Buffalo Olmsted Park Conservancy staff and volunteers discovered the
infestation within days of completing an EAB awareness training. Cornell
University Laboratory analysis of larval, pupal and adult beetles collected at South Park verified the infestation was EAB. Located in South Buffalo, South Park is a 155- acre public park and arboretum that is part of Buffalo’s historic Olmsted Parks system.

EAB was first detected in New York State in Cattaraugus County in 2009. Since then, infestations have been confirmed in seven other counties including Genesee, Monroe, Livingston, Steuben, Greene, Ulster and now Erie. Sixteen counties in western New York and Greene and Ulster counties remain quarantined.

The EAB has metallic green wing covers and a coppery red or purple abdomen; it is small enough to fit easily on a penny. Photos are available on
DEC’s website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7253.html.

What is Being Done in NYS to address EAB

New York State has actively surveyed for EAB since 2003, inspecting declining ash trees and setting detection tools statewide in cooperation with Animal Plant Health and Inspection Service (APHIS), US Forest Service, Cornell University, Cornell Cooperative Extension and SUNY ESF. After more than three years of outreach and education efforts about the risks of moving firewood and the state’s regulation, DEC is increasing its enforcement efforts to prevent the movement of untreated firewood into and around New York.

The Department of Agriculture and Markets is responsible for managing the quarantine, restricting the movement of ash nursery stock, logs and
firewood. Currently, 16 New York counties are under quarantine and NYSDAM Horticultural Inspectors are administering compliance
agreements to facilitate movement of regulated materials, while reducing risk of EAB movement.

In 2008, New York adopted regulations that ban untreated firewood from entering the state and restricts intrastate movement of untreated firewood
to no more than a 50-mile radius from its source. This was done as a precaution against the introduction and spread of EAB and other invasive
species because of the documented risk of transmission by moving firewood.

More recently, DEC adopted a strategy known as Slow Ash Mortality (SLAM). SLAM encompasses a variety of approaches to address EAB infestations, including removing infested trees, more precisely
defining infestation boundaries, and researching insecticides and biocontrols (organisms that kill pests). The hope is that current research will lead
to new ways to suppress EAB populations, minimize their spread and delay the death of ash trees. It is also hoped that SLAM will buy time for
communities and forest owners to prepare for EAB’s threat and potential financial impacts.

What People Can Do:

New Yorkers are urged to take the following steps to keep EAB from spreading to other areas of the state:

  • Leave all firewood at home - please do not bring it to campgrounds or parks. Movement of firewood is one of the primary pathways for
    spreading this insect.
  • Get your firewood at the campground or from a local vendor - ask for a receipt or label that has the firewood’s local source.
  • Watch for signs of infestation in your ash trees. If damage is consistent with the known symptoms of EAB infestation, report suspected damage to the state by calling 1-866-640-0652 for appropriate action as time and resources allow.

For more information on EAB, please visit DEC’s website at
http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7253.html.

 

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