Woodland & Wildlife Webinar: Status of Emerald Ash Borer in Maryland & Potential for Impact to Tidal Hardwood Swamps

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an invasive insect from Asia, continues to decimate ash trees in more than 30 U.S. states. It has recently expanded to Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Please join us for a one-hour webinar, hosted by the University of Maryland Extension, on Tuesday, August 7th from 12 PM to 1 PM Eastern, which will provide an update on the status of EAB in Maryland for woodland owners, land trusts, local government officials, pesticide professionals and others interested in EAB.

Since the emerald ash borer was detected in August 2003 in southern Maryland, it has spread across the state, decimating ash trees and forests. There are now concerns about it potential impact in tidal hardwood swamps around the Chesapeake Bay, which have not yet seen significant mortality.

Two speakers will address the EAB issue in Maryland. Colleen Kenny, EAB Coordinator with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, will give an overview of EAB status in the state and efforts to control it with injections and natural predators.

Jonathan Kays, Extension Forester with the University of Maryland Extension will discuss a case study of mortality of an ash-dominated tidal hardwood swamp along the Patuxent River. Ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) are the single dominant tree species of many tidal freshwater-forested wetlands on the U.S. Atlantic coast, including those of Chesapeake Bay. Along the US Atlantic coast, there are 220 square miles (141,000 acres) of ash-dominated tidal forest, with more than half (102,000 acres or 160 square miles) occurring in the three Chesapeake Bay states of Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. These wetlands are critically important for the services they provide and if widespread mortality occurs it will have significant environmental impacts. Recommendations and strategies to address the issue will be discussed.

Please register in advance.

1 CBLP CEU is available.