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:
- 12/9/2019 – Aggressive action in Minnesota slowing spread of tree-killing beetle (Pioneer Press)
- 10/20/2019 – Minnesota cities struggle to stay ahead of emerald ash borer’s rapid spread (StarTribune)
- 6/22/2019 – Emerald ash borer discovered in St. Louis Park (Sun Sailor)
- 5/11/2018 – Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed In Burnsville (Patch)
- 5/10/2018 – Emerald Ash Borer Infestation Confirmed in Burnsville (KSTP)
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!
