The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has been sighted and confirmed in two additional states – Texas and Nebraska – bringing the number of infiltrated states to 26. The beetle was also found outside of quarantine zones in Ontario last week.
EAB threatens all North American ash trees – a population of about 8.7 billion. It’s already killed an estimated 50 million trees.
Efforts to limit EAB’s scope have affected businesses that sell ash trees or wood products, property owners and governments. Economic impacts are high for urban and residential areas due to the treatment and removal costs, and decreased land value associated with dying trees. Costs for managing these trees often fall on homeowners or local districts.
In an effort to limit losses, efforts have been made to service logs of dead, infected trees into lumber and other wood products. Numerous quarantines have also been placed in confirmed areas.
Ash is known for its staining potential and ability to mimic oak. It has great shock resistance, solid workability, and is low in price. It’s commonly used for tool handles, where toughness is important. The loss of ash from an ecosystem can result in increased numbers of invasive plants, changes in soil nutrients, and effects on species that feed on ash. The loss to an economy can be devastating.
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/emerald-ash-borer-strikes-again-two-more-states-infected?ss=news,news,woodworking_industry_news,news,almanac_market_data,news