The Ash Tree Project
The Ash Tree Project (ATP) is a conservation project sponsored by AMV. This project aims to treat select high-value ash trees (fraxinus spp.) with the trunk-injected insecticide emmamectin benzoate (trade name “TREE-age”) to prevent near-certain mortality due to the exotic invasive pest Emerald Ash Borer (EAB – Agrilus planipennis). Treatment with TREE-age is commonly considered being effective for a two-year period, with some municipalities using a longer interval.
The priority treatment area is a 200+ acre tract of forest located within Hueston Woods State Park. This tract, known as “Big Woods”, is an area of old-growth beech-maple forest designated in 1967 as a National Natural Landmark. More information here.
Ash tree species are estimated to make up 10% of all tress in Ohio. White ash in particular, are estimated to comprise roughly 19% of the tree population within Hueston Woods. If these trees are lost, it could lead to major habitat loss and degradation.
In addition, Hueston Woods has been designated by the National Audubon Society as an “IBA” – Important Birding Area, and thus an area of the Mississippi Flyway designated for conservation emphasis by the National Audubon Society.
Pest pressure and tree mortality throughout the Project area appears to be ramping up from linear, toward what is described as the “exponential death phase”, already experienced in regions to the north with earlier infestation dates, so time is of the essence to identify and treat healthy candidate trees. The progression of EAB pressure in the Oxford ,Ohio area over the past few years could be likened to a brush fire progressing into a fully-involved inferno – all ash trees are at severe risk, and the time to begin treating any high-value tree in the area is immediately, especially if there is not yet any evidence of decline.
ATP was initiated by AMV board member Mark Gilmore. Mark authored the grant application and secured funding through an Audubon Collaborative Funding Grant. In May 2014, ATP was given a huge boost by a donation from the Arborjet company.
Additional funds, assistance, and grants-in-kind are still being sought. Additional funds will allow for treatment of a greater number of trees. Preservation of ash trees will help promote health and maintain the diversity of critical habitat, a beneficial outcome for the entire ecosystem, and an important aspect of habitat protection. the loss of this segment of the tree population represents potential major habitat loss and degradation.
AMV Chapter already has an ongoing conservation action project in HWSNP to eradicate under-story invasive species (garlic mustard, honeysuckle), initially funded by a $10,000 2012 Toyota TogetherGreen Fellows Grant. While this grant money has been exhausted, AMV is continuing this conservation action on an annual basis. ATP aims for further stewardship of the Big Woods by preserving at least a small portion of the legacy ash trees, and their important canopy feature. Additionally, preservation of ash trees could also represent a safe harbor for seed stock, particularly in the event current or future research yields parasitoid or other remedies against EAB, possibly allowing for future perpetuation of the species.
While ATP is not currently part of any academic research program, documentation of application dates and GPS location coordinates will be kept – this data will be available to interested parties. The necessary Ohio State Nature Reserve Research Permit to perform this work within HWSNP has been issued by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Natural Areas & Preserves.
For more information on Emerald Ash Borer, go to:
http://www.emeraldashborer.info
http://www.ars.usda.gov/Research/docs.htm?docid=22935
http://butler.osu.edu/topics/horticulture/emerald-ash-bore-butler-county-quarantined