Emerald ash borer (EAB), an exotic pest which kills all species of ash trees native to North America, was discovered in the South Saint Anthony neighborhood of Saint Paul in May 2009.  Following the discovery, the City of Saint Paul Parks & Recreation-Forestry unit has worked in conjunction with the MN Dept of Agriculture to manage the area of known infestation and to slow the spread of EAB.

Based on past experience in Detroit and the surrounding areas, eradication of this pest is not a feasible management plan-it simply does not work. Current research based mainly in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana, shows that "slowing the spread" of EAB may be a more likely scenario.  This management plan includes many "tools", one of which is the reduction of overall ash tree populations.

Based on this research, the City of Saint Paul Forestry Unit began working throughout the city in early February to reduce ash populations overall by removing declining ash trees (the plan also calls for removed ash trees to be stumped and re-planted with a different variety of tree within a reasonable time frame).

This program, one which is supported by the MN Dept of Agriculture and aforementioned current research, may directly affect your neighborhood.  Therefore, a community meeting has been scheduled for residents to learn more about this management strategy in more detail, and what exactly it means for the urban forest of Saint Paul.

The meeting will take place on March 1 at the Rice Recreation Center, located at 1021 Marion St, starting at 6 PM.

Content submitted by the City of St. Paul's Department of Parks and Recreation; Posted by JW