Webinar: Emerald Ash Borer Cooperative Management: Ideal and In-practice

USDA Forest Service Urban Forest Connections Webinar Series

The emerald ash borer (EAB) is one of the most economically and environmentally damaging invasive species to reach the United States. Economic damage of EAB is most severe in cities that lose abundant high-value ash trees growing along streets and in yards. Pest management and economic models suggest that a landscape level approach across all ownerships, including surveillance for early detection, treatment of ash trees with systemic insecticides, and removal of infested ash trees, yields the greatest benefits at the lowest costs. While individual cities can develop EAB management plans that include these measures on public lands, they cannot manage beyond their borders and may not realize maximum benefit. In this webinar, Robert Haight will present research on the economics of ash treatment and removal strategies and the potential gains in social welfare from the ideal cooperation among city governments and private residents. Based on years of experience, Jeff Hafner will describe barriers to direct cooperation among cities and practices that professional arborists can use to overcome those barriers. He will share examples of management plans and agreements that he has brokered among cities and private residents in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

Presented by:

Robert Haight, USDA Forest Service

Jeff Hafner, Rainbow Treecare

Where: Go to https://usfs.adobeconnect.com/ucf/

For more information: Contact the Urban Forest Technology & Science Delivery Team at urban@fs.fed.us with questions, feedback, requests for special accommodations, speaker suggestions, or to be added to the mailing list.