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Source: NCDA&CS, 1/27/21
In 2013, the emerald ash borer was first found in North Carolina. Its discovery was met with dread. This invasive beetle had already become notorious by devastating the forests in the Midwest and Northeast. We knew it killed trees and spread quickly. The future was not bright for North Carolina’s ash trees.Predictions of imminent devastation have been confirmed. Since
its initial discovery, the emerald ash borer has continued to spread across the state. As of
January 2021, the tree-killing beetle is known to occur in 62 of our 100
counties. North Carolina is losing its ash trees quickly, both in forest and
urban settings. Ash is a popular choice for urban plantings and seeing large ash
trees forming a canopy over a street is not an uncommon sight. In North
Carolina, these areas are now in danger. The emerald ash borer is already in or
near the most populous urban areas in the state including Charlotte, Raleigh,
Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Durham and Asheville. Help is available for protecting community ash trees. The N.C.
Forest Service Forest Health program aids local and state agencies, and nonprofit
organizations in protecting ash trees in urban areas and parks through the Ash
Protection Program (APP). With funds from a USDA Forest Service grant,
assistance is available for groups and localities to protect ash resources with
an approved pesticide. Funding is limited and priority is given to larger ash
trees and ash trees with historical significance, trees in recreation or high visibility
areas, or areas on sites where tree failure would present a high risk to life
and property. Applications for funding are now being accepted and must be received by Feb. 26, 2021 for spring and summer treatments. For further information or to apply for the program, visit the Ash Protection Program website
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