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<br /> <br />The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board's <br />Emerald Ash Borer Preparedness Plan <br /> <br />Introduction <br /> <br />The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a non-native insect that was introduced to North <br />America from Asia. It was discovered in the Detroit, Michigan I Windsor, Ontario <br />area in 2002 and probably arrived in wood packing materials on cargo ships or <br />airplanes. Despite eradication and suppression efforts, EAB has killed over 20 <br />million Ash trees in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland and Ontario. <br /> <br />EABis a beetle that is smaller than a dime. The adult does very little damage. <br />However, this is not the case with the larvae (immature stage) that feed on the <br />inner bark of Ash trees. This feeding disrupts the tree's ability to transport water <br />and nutrients. Larval feeding takes place over a period of years and eventually <br />kills the infested tree. All species of Ash are susceptible. Because EAB is hard to <br />detect, it can be present for years before an infestation is confirmed. <br /> <br />There are currently no known control measures for EAB. This means that it has <br />the potential of killing millions of Ash trees throughout the United States and <br />Canada. In Minneapolis this means approximately 210,000 trees which compose <br />the urban tree canopy on both private and public property. Of these, <br />approximately 38,000 are boulevard trees. <br /> <br />No one can determine when EAB will arrive in Minneapolis but if left to its own <br />natural progression it may be 60 years before it is present. This would give plenty <br />of time to attrition existing Ash trees out of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation <br />Board (MPRB) system. Unfortuf'1ately, EAB can travel easily in firewood and <br />nursery stock. This means that despite state and federal quarantines of infested <br />regions, EAB may already be established in the metro area. <br />