Ash Utilization Options Project of Southeast Michigan

Introduction

The emerald ash borer is a destructive, exotic pest of ash (Fraxinus species) in the United States. Ash is an economically important tree species in the eastern U.S. It is a major component of hardwood forests in the region and is also a predominant urban street tree species. An Emerald Ash Borer infestation is underway in southeastern Michigan. Significant ash mortality is occurring. The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) in cooperation with the USDA Animal and Plant Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) initially quarantined a six-county area in southeast Michigan. The Emerald Ash Borer was initially discovered in the summer of 2002 in six southeast Michigan counties (Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne). Discovery of additional infestations has expanded quarantined area. To date, EAB has killed or damaged almost six million ash trees in this six-county area.

MDA is planning to remove dead, dying and healthy ash within a 2,500 square mile area in order to eradicate this pest. As a result of this eradication process, significant volumes of wood fiber will be created. This pilot project is an attempt to create economic benefits by recycling this harvested material into value added products.

A project of the Southeast MI RC&D