It has been 10 years since the emerald ash borer (EAB) tree pest was detected in the city by Boulder Parks and Recreation Department’s Forestry team.
Boulder Forestry recently developed a story map with the Davey Resource Group to share experiences and lessons learned from managing EAB.
The story map explores:
- An overview of EAB and the challenges associated with managing this invasive pest.
- The importance and extent of our urban tree canopy, and how it has changed since EAB was detected.
- Boulder Forestry’s role in managing public trees.
- The management decisions and collaborative efforts that have helped Boulder Forestry slow ash mortality following EAB's detection.
- Lessons learned and observations of EAB in Colorado.
- How community members can help sustain Boulder’s urban tree canopy by planting and growing new trees.
EAB has impacted all urban forestry operations and resulted in the removal of thousands of ash trees. However, tree planting and the protection of large public ash trees through EAB management efforts have successfully preserved tree canopy and slowed ash mortality.
After a decade of managing EAB in Colorado, evidence suggests that EAB is manageable at the local level. Thankfully, the lessons learned in our city have helped other communities throughout the state manage EAB once it was discovered in their town, city, or county.
