I’m sure I’m not the only one who took to the woods when things got rough – and I still do it to this day. Except now, when I head into a York Regional Forest property for a hike after a particularly stressful day, I’m reminded of a large and scary problem that won’t go away: the impact of Emerald Ash Borer on those tree-tops that have taken so many burdens from my shoulders over the years. The same thing happens when I climb out of my car at home. I always look at the trees. It’s calming after battling traffic. But lately, I examine the ash along my boulevard and imagine what the street would look like without them.
As the invasive species specialist for York Region, it’s my job to worry about EAB, but the worry doesn’t stop when the work-day is done. Even though my life is all about this invasive pest lately, I know many people who care for and benefit from the trees in their yards, neighbourhoods and favourite parks don’t yet fully understand the impact that it will have – and what they could do to make a difference.
The LEAF EAB Ambassador Program empowers people to understand the threat of EAB, and what they can do to protect their own trees and lessen the blow in their neighbourhoods. It gives people the knowledge they need to make proactive decisions about insecticide treatment, removal and replanting. EAB Ambassadors are equipped to share their knowledge with their communities, so that no one is blind-sided by the devastating impact of this insect. York Region supports the delivery of this program to all residents in the Region.
For many of the 700,000 ash trees in urban areas of York Region this may be the last year that proactive action is possible. Knowledge truly is power – and time is running out.