A Landowner's Guide for Woodlots Threatened by Emerald Ash Borer

A LANDOWNER’S GUIDE FOR WOODLOTS THREATENED BY EMERALD ASH BORER July 20062the bark that are 3.5 to 4.1 mm wide. Feedingby adult beetles on foliage creates a jagged ornotched edge to leaves.Symptoms of EAB attack include treedecline, crown thinning and the appearance ofepicormic branches (new shoots growing fromthe trunk or main branches, often in clumps).Other symptoms include vertical cracks in thebark created from larval tunnelling.Figure 2 Emerald ash borer adult and larva.Figure 5 Crown thinning and epicormic branchingfrom EAB attack.Figure 3 D-shaped exit hole created by adultemerald ash borer.Symptoms of EAB attack are similar to thosecaused by other factors such as drought ordisease. Presence of the beetle, larvae, larvaltunnels, or adult exit holes are the best meansof confirming EAB attack.How to Identify Ash TreesLandowners should be able to distinguishash from other tree species. Species such asmountain ash, walnut, butternut, hickory,black locust and Manitoba maple appear similarbut are not attacked by EAB.Figure 4 S-shaped larval galleries.LEAVESLeaves and branches of ash grow in anopposite arrangement: where one leaf orbranch grows, a second leaf or branch growsfrom the opposite side of the branch. Leavesare compound with 5 to 11 leaflets, often withthe terminal leaflet larger (Figure 6). Leafletsare paired except at the end.

A LANDOWNER’S GUIDE FOR WOODLOTS THREATENED BY EMERALD ASH BORER July 20063be spread by people through the movement offirewood, nursery stock, trees, logs, lumber orwood with bark attached, and wood or barkchips. The movement of firewood has directlycontributed to the spread of EAB in Ontario.Figure 6 Red ash leaf.BARKBark is furrowed or scaly, often with ridgesin a diamond-shaped pattern on mature trees(Figure 7).Managing WoodlotsThreatened by EABSilvicultural practices such as thinning andpruning can reduce stress and promote goodform, vigour and growth. Targeted reductionof ash density that maintains some isolatedbut healthy individual trees may reduce thesusceptibility of the stand to infestation.Cutting trees according to provincial treemarking guidelines provides space andopportunity for other tree species toregenerate and grow and will maintainadequate density or basal area to reduce therisk of blowdown. Removal of all ash in standswhere it makes up 50 per cent or more of thedominant trees or basal area may result indamage from wind or allow the establishmentof non-forest or invasive plant species.PLANNING & FOREST MANAGEMENTADVICEA management plan will better prepare thelandowner to make decisions about sustainableforest management. Landowners consideringremoval of timber from woodlands can contacta professional forestry consultant for advice onbest management options.Figure 7 Red ash bark.To distinguish between tree species, see forexample, Trees in Canada by J.L. Farrar,published by Fitzhenry and Whiteside Ltd.1995.How does EAB Spread?EAB is able to fly several kilometres. It canTREE HEALTH MONITORINGThe health of ash grown individually or inplantations, woodlots, or forested areas shouldbe monitored regularly, particularly in advanceof an EAB infestation. Suspicious signs andsymptoms should be reported to the CFIA ifthe area is not known to be infested. This maylimit an infestation and allow time fordetection and a strategic response.ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONSThere is no urgent need to cut all healthyash trees in a woodlot. Landowners should notfeel pressured to sell their merchantable ashfor timber. Landowners concerned abouteconomic loss from an EAB infestation, mayconsider harvesting some ash trees in advance

A LANDOWNER’S GUIDE FOR WOODLOTS THREATENED BY EMERALD ASH BORER July 20064of an infestation or at the time it occurs. Treesinfested by the borer are still valuable in woodfibre and sawtimber markets since EAB onlyinfests the outer layers of wood. Landownersare advised to have three prospective buyers’quotes on trees marked for removal.REGENERATION AND PLANTINGIn most cases, it will not be necessary toplant trees in a woodlot. There is usuallyenough natural seed or young trees to takeadvantage of the space, sunlight and nutrientsprovided where trees have died. In somecases where species diversity has beenreduced through past woodlot use, landownersmay consider re-introducing some speciesthrough planting.Landowners can consider strategies such asinter-planting with seedlings of other nativespecies or direct seeding of nuts such as oak,hickory, and walnut. It is important to usenative species from locally-adapted seedsources and consider local site conditions forplanting and seeding. There are many privatetree nurseries in Ontario that may providesuitable stock.Landowners will be best served by plantingmore than one species that are suited to thesite conditions. Species diversity minimizes therisk of total plantation loss. Rarely will allspecies be susceptible at the same time toinfestations by insects and diseases or toweather-related events such as ice storms ordrought.RESISTANCESome resistant or partially resistant ash maybe present. Partially resistant trees may diemore slowly and could provide seed for thenext generation, habitat for wildlife, or hostbeneficial insects and decay fungi to breakdown forest material and provide nutrients fortrees and other forest plants.Movement and Use of AshWoodInfested wood can be used for lumber andfirewood provided it does not leave an arearegulated by the Canadian Food InspectionAgency (CFIA). Landowners within a regulatedarea wishing to use the lumber from their ashtrees may hire the services of portablesawmillers and have logs sawn on theirproperty.Slabs and bark from infested trees must bechipped, burned or buried to ensure that EABare destroyed. Sawlogs must be sawn and soldwithin the regulated area and cannot betransported beyond a regulated area in logform. Before any management actions aretaken, the CFIA should be contacted, 1-866-463-6017, to confirm an EAB infestation andto ensure any wood processing or movementis consistent with quarantines and ministerialorders.References(For additional copies of this publication or forprinted references contact the Natural ResourcesInformation Centre 1-800-667-1940)A Guide to Stewardship Planning for Natural AreasA Guide to the Managed Forest Tax IncentiveProgramA Landowner’s Guide to Selling Standing TimberCanadian Food Inspection Agency,http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect/pestrava/ashfre/agrplae.shtmlCanadian Forest Service,http://www.glfc.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources,http://ontariosforests.mnr.gov.on.ca/foresthealthoverview.cfmOntario Woodlot Association,www.ontariowoodlot.comAcknowledgementsThe authors appreciate the efforts of all thosewho contributed to this guide. In particular, KenElliot, Ken Yaraskavitch, and Barb Boysen providedvaluable input on earlier drafts. The authors wouldalso like to acknowledge the long-standing foresthealth partnership in Ontario between OMNR andthe Canadian Forest Service which has contributedboth directly and indirectly to this guide.FHG-1-2006