Buffalo Faces Potential Invasion
Many people expressed concern when the oldest tree was threatened, it’s a wonder how many people might be concerned if more than just one tree was threatened. Unfortunately, we may find out sooner rather than later. Pennsylvania and Michigan have had their ash trees absolutely devastated by the Emerald Ash Borer, a shiny green bug that came overseas from a wooden pallet and is now spreading as wild as a forest fire.
Since it was discovered in 2002, it has killed 40 million ash trees in just southeastern Michigan with tens of millions more lost in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Missouri, and Washington. The USDA has gone as far to quarintine different areas to try and prevent the spreading. The bug has been spotted as close to WNY as Western Pennsylvania, making it a fairly imminent threat to Buffalo’s ash tree population. The ash tree population makes up around 25 percent of WNY’s tree canopy, and losing even a portion of that amount would make a huge difference on the face of the area, which is known for its trees.
The tree organizations that exist here are not sitting idly by. Re-Tree WNY has already teamed up with the NYS Urban and Community Forestry Council, the NYS Department of Conservation, and USDA Aphis to bring a free to symposium to the public. Not only will private citizens be in attendance, but municipalities from around NY will be in attendance as well as arborists and park employees.
The symposium, “Preparing for the Invasion,” will be held at the Mary Seaton Room at Kleinhans Music Hall at 2 PM on Saturday, October 18th. It will discuss whether or not there is hope for the ash trees and what residents can do to for the ash trees around them. If you would like more information, you can visit Re-Tree WNY's website.
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