What would the world be like without trees? Would we stop and notice, or just move along and continue our daily routine? How would it effect our environment and would it be good for our children's future? If any of these questions do indeed need to be answered then the most logical flow of action would be to recognize a "danger" or "threat" to the nature community.
A common problem in history has been the introduction of non-indigenous species to a new environment. Whether the action is intentional or not, it usually is never a good thing and causes problems for not only that species, but its new environment as well. The biggest recent example of this issue has been the "Emerald Ash Borer," which has been feeding off the local Ash trees in the Midwest and destroying a majority of the Ash tree population.
The issue of this outbreak has been discussed by head scientists and various state agencies across the country and as the awareness grows it is easy to see why this is a serious problem. There are some who believe that it is already too late for the Midwest Ash trees but for the rest of the United States and Canada, something must be done.
How exactly is the Ash Borer destroying the Ash tree population? The insect burrows itself into the tree and the larvae cuts off the nutrients to the core of the tree draining the life from the inside. Every Ash tree is susceptible to the Emerald Ash Borer, even the ones at private residences. However, with any outbreak, there are steps and precautions that are taking place to save as many of the Ash trees as possible. The National Association of County Agricultural Agents or the NACAA partnered with Minnesota Department of Agriculture in 2008 to create the Emerald Ash Borer First Detective Program. The state of Minnesota contained and quarantined the areas that the Emerald Ash Borer began appearing and began giving medicine to trees and used chemicals to remove some of the Ash Borer's. The program worked and the population of Ash Trees in Minnesota was protected enough where the Ash Borer was contained and the battle continues today.
"Minnesota and Maine have the two largest ash tree populations in the US
and Minnesota’s wetland hardwood forests are more than 50% ash. This
invasive specie is posed to dramatically change Minnesota’s forests" (NACAA.com).
Since the state of Minnesota was smart enough to prepare for the outbreak, they were able to save many Ash trees, but what about other states? The outbreak had reportedly started in Detroit, so how are adjoining states like Indiana handling the Emerald Ash Borer crisis?
Indiana had an Emerald Ash Borer awareness week in May of 2013, where it stated that the week was to encourage governments, businesses, and communities to join and raise awareness of the outbreak and help save the 8 billion Ash trees in Indiana alone. Community not-for-profit organizations like Keep Indianapolis Beautiful helped neighborhoods tag Ash trees and raise awareness of the insect in 2011. The tagging process allowed residents to send an application in to notify KIB of an Ash tree and in turn they tagged the tree to be monitored from the threat. They also offer other great programs like "Neighborwoods", which help various communities plant trees and try and combat the dead Ash trees with the growth of new ones.
"Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week is an opportunity for the government to join forces with business, industry, environmental groups, community organizations, tourists, and citizens to take action against the spread and introduction of EAB." (http://www.in.gov/dnr/)
Regardless of what State one may reside, or community they may live in, the threat of non-indigenous species hurting the environment is very serious. It is up to all of us, to be aware of the potential threat that the Emerald Ash Borer causes, and learn what we can do to aid in the protection of nature and our communities. It might just be one tree here or there, but wide spread, the devastation would be a generation without shade and beauty. In the end it is up to all of us when possible to grow creative partnerships to benefit education and transform the community through service.
