Maybe not completely surrendering, but definitely changing tactics for the time being, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced it would no longer regulate the movement of ash trees or emerald ash borer-infested wood. Initially found in the U.S. and Canada in 2002 when ash trees in the Detroit area began dying, Asian emerald ash borer adult beetles can fly up 10km and go undetected in an area for years.
The USDA established a quarantine to try and regulate ash products moving out of the initial infestation zone, but the emerald ash borer is now found in 35 states (mostly east and central U.S.) and Canada. After spending $350 million overall in the control effort since, officials say they are exploring less expensive and less intrusive methods. One plan is to introduce an Asian wasp that’s a natural predator to the borer beetle to infested areas, which has shown promising impact but is more of a long-term process.
Some states and Native American tribes will continue the borer fight, with Minnesota enforcing an international quarantine and several states continuing a certified borer-free firewood program what was initiated by the USDA.