Emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive beetle that kills ash trees native to North America, has been in Minnesota since its discovering in St. Paul in 2009. Until now it's been the bane of cities, communities and government agencies. Recently it was discovered on private forest land in Winona county. This discovery, while expected, is now an important reality for woodland owners in southeastern Minnesota.
If you are a private woodland owner in Wisconsin or Minnesota and have ash on your land consider starting a management plan now. There are steps you can take to minimize the impact EAB will have on your property. The early you start planning the better. The Ash Management Guide is a wonderful place to start. This resource was developed with a large group of leading experts to offers recommendations for family woodland owners. Recommendations focus on five different ecosystems where ash is an important component including: wet forests, floodplain forests and mesic (or mixed hardwood) forests.
The Ash Management Guide helps woodland owners understand the issue, evaluate the risk and consider their management goals and opportunities. Check it out today!
Photos from John Carlson