Emerald Ash borer is on the move

Posted Feb 23, 2012 By Kristen Coughlar from KingstonEMC  http://www.emckingston.ca/20120223/editorials/A+quest+for+relaxation

EMC news-The Emerald Ash Borer is winding its way across Ontario killing ash trees. Aerial surveys in 2010 in southwest Ontario identified 35,000 hectares of dead or dying ash trees. The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is known to exist from Windsor east to Toronto in the Ottawa area and is on the move. Can Wolfe Island and the Kingston area with their beautiful mature stands of ash escape ?

The Emerald Ash Borer is known to impact all varieties of ash trees. The invasive insect, a bright green beetle moves quickly on its tree killing spree. The borer destroys the water and nutrient conducting tissues under the bark. Infested trees exhibit canopy die-back usually starting at the top of the tree.

“The arrival of the Emerald Ash Borer in our area is pretty much inevitable,” according to Cam McCauley, Frontenac Stewardship Council. Coordinator. “Wolfe Island presents some unique possibilities for control of the borer, due to its restricted access. We want to fully inform landowners, so they can formulate a plan,” he said.

To that end the Frontenac Stewardship Council is hosting a meeting on Wolfe Island Tuesday March 6th, at the Wolfe Island United Church Hall beginning at 6:45 pm

Guest speaker, Martin Streit, Leeds & Grenville Stewardship Coordinator, will describe the EAB’s life cycle and the history of its spread, provide the necessary information for landowners to identify signs of EAB infestation damage, and to devise plans for their properties before the ash borer reaches this area.

At the same meeting The 50 Million Tree Planting Program will be presented by Rick Knapton, Forestry Technician for the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority. The program ( familiar to Wolfe Islander’s) offers landowners the opportunity to have trees planted on their property for pennies a tree. Committed to planting 50 million trees by 2020 to help fight climate change, the Trees Ontario and Ontario government program is designed to significantly reduce costs of large-scale tree planting. Landowners, in return for agreeing to maintain the trees, receive native seedling trees planted on open land by an experienced crew.

“Its all about trees. If you want to combat climate change – planting trees is the easiest and most effective way,” McCauley added

The meeting will also include a discussion about The Assisted Migration Project by Gary Nielsen and Barb Boysen. The question being: Will tree species from the southern United States adapt to a colder climate and further adapt over time to our warming climate?

Remember the date: Tues. March 6th, Wolfe Island United Church Hall, 6:45 pm. All are welcome at no charge.

Coming from the mainland, consider walking onto the ferry, After departing the ferry, turn left walk to Victoria St, turn right on to the church.

For more information, contact Cam McCauley, Frontenac Stewardship Coordinator at 613-531-5714 cam.mccauley@ontario.ca OR contact Barrie Gilbert, FSC member and Wolfe Island resident at 613-385-2289 barrie.gilbert36@gmail.com

Around Town: WI resident George Merry wants to set a date for a meeting to hear all about “Tall Grass Ontario” and how it could benefit Wolfe Island. Call him at 613-385-2816 or 613-888-8555 . Leave suggestions. “There is no work, no executive, no committee. Just your interest ,” according to George.