June 15, 2013
As of May 7, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has expanded its regulated areas for the emerald ash borer (EAB) in Ontario.

The changes in regulated areas, which are intended to slow the spread of the EAB by restricting the movement of ash materials, result from new detections of the beetle.

Bruce County has been added to the existing regulated area, which includes Hamilton, Toronto, Chatham-Kent, Durham, York, Peel, Halton, Niagara and Waterloo and the Counties of Brant (including the City of Brantford), Elgin, Essex, Haldimand, Huron, Lambton, Middlesex, Norfolk, Oxford, Perth, Wellington and the Ottawa area.

All other regulated areas remain unchanged. A map of regulated areas in Ontario may be found at http://bit.ly/EABarea.

The movement of all ash tree materials and all firewood out of the regulated areas will be restricted. Those who move these materials from a regulated area without prior permission from the CFIA could face fines and/or prosecution.

CFIA says it is continuing to work with its partners and stakeholders toward slowing the spread of the emerald ash borer. Efforts are underway to develop a revised management approach, which will take effect in 2014. The federal agency says details will be shared in the coming months.

Meanwhile in Oakville, hundreds of trees have been removed over the past months. Town manager of forestry services John McNeil said the trees being removed are infested and are dead or dying. McNeil says the infested trees are a threat to public safety.

In Oakville’s McCraney Park alone, there are approximately 1,853 ash trees. It is confirmed 70-80 per cent must be removed. McNeil says similar scenarios will take place throughout Oakville.

Oakville has 280 woodlot parks, covering 848 hectares and containing around 44,000 ash trees. It estimated 180,000 ash trees are on private property. The town recommends that residents hire certified arborists to treat their trees.

Oakville is considered a leader in EAB management, with one of the most aggressive ash treatment programs in Canada. Last year, the town treated 3,000 municipal ash trees with TreeAzin.

In Hamilton, municipal council voted to cut down every ash tree on city property within the next 10 years.

The city approved a $26.2 million plan that will gradually see the felling of the 22,738 ash trees belonging to the municipality.

The City of London will spend over $14-million to remove and replant trees taken by EAB.

Approximately 10 per cent of all trees in London are ash. These will be replaced with other species. Some ash trees deemed integral to their area have been treated with TreeAzin injections.

The city has approximately 10,000 ash trees on boulevards and in manicured portions of parks.

Homeowners in London are encouraged to look after their own ash trees, either by paying for TreeAzin injections or removing infected trees. TreeAzin is available only to certified professionals.

Landscape Ontario has included an information site for consumers at http://bit.ly/LOeab.