Emerald ash borer (EAB, Agrilus planipennis) is a wood-boring beetle, native to SE Asia, that causes damage to ash trees (Fraxinus species). While EAB is not currently present in Europe, it has invaded and established in North America, where it is already causing extensive damage and high mortality to native ash species. To prepare for any future risk to Europe and, especially, the UK, a team from Forest Research, Fera and The Tree Council paid a visit to the US to find out more about this pest and learn from their experiences in urban management of EAB.
The group, which included Mariella Marzano and Hugh Evans from Forest Research, visited a number of cities specially chosen to include municipalities that have been dealing with EAB for varying lengths of time. Some have several years’ experience of EAB, while others are just starting EAB management or, in some cases, are yet to encounter the pest.
The aim of this fact-finding trip was to learn about the different approaches to dealing with the impacts of EAB in city neighbourhoods and parks, and how to engage communities in management efforts. A number of themes and lessons emerged.
Lessons learned
Mark your calendars with dates of major events and shows that we’ll be attending in 2024.
Lord Douglas-Miller OBE, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at Defra and Minister for Biosecurity, Animal Health and Welfare, visited Forest Research’s Alice Holt research station on Monday 11 March 2024 to find out more about our work protecting trees, woodlands and forests from invasive pests and diseases.
A new national monitoring project aims to help prevent the potential spread of a serious pest affecting spruce trees – the larger eight-toothed European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus).
Mark your calendars with dates of major events and shows that we’ll be attending in 2024.
Lord Douglas-Miller OBE, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at Defra and Minister for Biosecurity, Animal Health and Welfare, visited Forest Research’s Alice Holt research station on Monday 11 March 2024 to find out more about our work protecting trees, woodlands and forests from invasive pests and diseases.
A new national monitoring project aims to help prevent the potential spread of a serious pest affecting spruce trees – the larger eight-toothed European spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus).