Emerald Ash Borer Impact in Minnesota
What is the overall impact?
Emerald ash borer is causing a devastating ecological event throughout the Twin Cities. More than one in five metro area trees is an ash tree. Losing this many trees is comparable to a natural disaster, having both a large environmental and economic impact. Look outside, and imagine 20% of the visible mature trees being gone!
- As of April 2020, 6 of the 7 metro counties are under EAB quarantine.
- Statewide, Minnesota has an estimated 937 million ash trees.
- In Minnesota cities, 1 in every 5 trees is an ash tree.
Emerald Ash Borer Local News:
- 3/14/21 – February cold snap likely helped Minnesota’s fight against emerald ash borer (MPRNews)
- 3/10/21 – U Of M Scientists Discover Fungi That ‘Attack’ Emerald Ash Borer(CBS Minnesota)
- 1/25/21 – Emerald ash borer discovered in Shakopee (SW News Media)
- 1/13/21 – Emerald ash borer found in Chanhassen(SW News Media)
- 10/6/2020 – Emerald ash borer found in Carver, Sibley counties (StarTribune)
- 6/16/2020 – 1 Of 5 Trees In Twin Cities At Risk For Emerald Ash Borer (CBS Minnesota)
Should you keep your tree?
The environmental and economic value of trees is well documented. Mature ash trees provide a significant amount of valuable tree canopy in our community. For example, an average urban tree will:
Reducing flooding during storms and keeping pollution from our rivers and lakes.
Reduce CO2 in the atmosphere by over 600 pounds every year.
Produce the cooling effect of ten room-size air conditioners operating twenty hours a day.
Protecting your ash tree for 20 years is less than the cost of removal and replacement. Plus, you retain the value of a mature tree in your landscape. Read more about how to id an ash tree and managing ash trees. Regardless of whether you treat or remove, being proactive and making a plan is important!
