Michigan State University - Department of Forestry Backgrounder

A research team from Michigan State University's Department of Forestry, made up of Dr. Pascal Kamdem, Dr. Robert Haack, Pascal Nzokou, and Toby Petrice, has been awarded a grant of $38,126 to support funding of their research: "Development of Value Added Products from Ash Trees Harvested in Emerald Ash Borer Eradication Programs in Michigan."

As stated in the grant proposal, the objectives of this research are to:

  1. Identify simple, affordable, and environmentally acceptable treatments capable of killing/destroying emerald ash borer insects, larvae, and pupae from harvested logs. This will facilitate the transportation of treated logs out of the quarantined areas for further processing with no risk of infection.

    Two chemical formulations, DOT (a boric acid-based insecticide) and Preventol (also known as imidacloprid), which are both inexpensive and have low toxicity to the environment, will be used to treat unprocessed logs within the quarantine area. A full study will be done to evaluate the effectiveness of these two treatments on the survival of the EAB in ash logs under varying conditions. Varying concentrations of the treatments will also be used to determine the most cost-effective method.


  2. Demonstrate the feasibility of producing and manufacturing value-added products from ash logs harvested in the EAB eradication program area in Michigan, thereby benefiting municipalities and helping to offset the cost associated with the eradication program.

    Ash logs will be obtained from the City of Lansing and a portable sawmill operation will be established to process this material into lumber of various sizes. Approximately 2,000 - 3,000 board feet of lumber will be produced. All high-grade lumber will be shipped to Devereaux Sawmill in Pewamo, MI to be kiln dried, planed, and surfaced. This wood will then be processed by Launstein Lumber in Mason, MI into flooring, cabinetry, and furniture. Lower-grade lumber and timbers will be air dried, treated with environmentally sensitive wood preservatives, and used for pallets, fence posts, guardrails, and sound barriers. Bark and branches will be sent to a chipping / grinding operation and used for energy cogeneration or wood composites. The economic feasibility of producing these wood products will also be evaluated.


  3. Work together with communities, municipalities, and primary and secondary wood products operators (such as sawmill and furniture makers) in the quarantine areas to promote and increase the awareness and the use of ash as a valuable species for high-value products. Typical products that may be produced include flooring, sporting goods, cabinetry, highway guardrails, fence and farm posts, picnic tables in parks, and boards for fences and sound barriers along the highway.

    Various public outreach initiatives will be conducted to promote the utilization of EAB-impacted ash wood. Municipalities will be offered the opportunity to ship their ash lumber to Michigan State University for treatment with wood preservatives. Additionally, an ash products demonstration facility will be set up at MSU's Tree Research Center in East Lansing. This site will be a public showcase, educating various stakeholders about the potential of utilizing urban logs by presenting fences, benches, decks, indoor and outdoor furniture, and kitchen cabinets made from harvested urban ash trees.


  4. Generate information for training programs in the conversion of ash wood and other available urban species such as sycamore, elm, and silver maple into value-added products.

    5. Data generated from this research will be used to supplement a variety of training initiatives by showing the economic and production feasibility of generating value-added products from removed urban trees.

Targeting Michigan's core emerald ash borer infestation area of Lenawee, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties.