Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) 101 Seminar

In partnership with Idaho Department of Lands

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has been arguably the most devastating invasive pest in the last 20 years in the country. Through research and experience, we now have better models, solutions, and an understanding of how we can better prepare communities for the arrival of EAB.

Join us Tuesday, April 15th, 2025 to learn everything you want to know about emerald ash borer. This event is free to attend and is open to municipalities, tree care and landscape professionals, and non-profit organizations looking for information and guidance on how protect and preserve their constituents' and customers' ash trees.

Leading EAB experts and practitioners from across the country will discuss:

• Idaho’s preparedness and action plans
• Guidelines to determine when and how you should treat ash trees
• Herd immunity techniques to allow communities to maximize management budgets and replanting efforts
• How agencies have managed EAB
• Demonstrations of field equipment and more

Registration

Agenda

8:00 – 8:30 AM Doors Open | Registration

8:30 – 8:45 AM Introduction & Housekeeping
Camilla Popp Ensenat, Pacific Northwest, Territory Manager, Rainbow Ecoscience 

8:45 – 9:30 AM EAB Management Considerations
Hannah Hampton, Technical Advisor, Rainbow Ecoscience

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is the most destructive, costliest pest to ever invade North America. It is responsible for the death of over 100 million trees across the Midwest and East Coast. It has been in North America for over 20 years, this presentation will discuss the impact of EAB, sign/symptoms, determining municipal budget allocations, how to determine which trees to target, and a toolbox approach to manage EAB.

9:30 – 10:15 AM An Overview of Planning and Response Efforts
Matt Perkins, Urban & Community Forestry Program Manager, Idaho Department of Lands

Emerald Ash Borer has not yet been discovered in Idaho, but the state is being surrounded by more infestations each year. What actions are being taken to assist Idaho communities with the detection, prevention and planning for the inevitable arrival of this destructive pest?

When working with living organism’s limitations often arise, and because of this we are too often left treating reactively and not preventatively. This presentation will provide insightful information on the statewide efforts to assist Idaho communities with preparedness using a “Tool-box” approach for developing a robust Urban and Community Forestry and program that includes a Plant Health Care approach and appropriate response processes.

10:15 – 10:30 AM Break

10:30 – 11:30 AM Herd Immunity: Its Use and Benefit for Maintaining Ash in the Community Forest
Dr. Rich Hauer, Director of Urban Forestry at CNUC and Professor Emeritus of Urban Forestry at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Maybe you are wondering what to do when faced with emerald ash borer (EAB)? Maybe you have a plan, but are questioning if you are n the right track. Well jump on board the EAB train and a destination to learn from the rich experience of municipalities and their response to EAB. The first premise of EAB is whether you like it or not it will cost you money. However, as a municipal manager or as a practitioner, your job is to best mange the costs, but as important realize the benefits. Learn from the models we initially developed and since been replicated by several other research teams that retaining ash trees makes sense. We know well the ash tree benefits far out weight the costs of EAB treatments programs. This talk will provide you a context of the economic ramifications and also how to spread the cost over time. We will look at the various treatment strategies and what they mean. You will also learn about a 20-year tree canopy and retention study in Wisconsin that shows a ways to plan long-term on retaining tree canopy today while also planting today for canopy in the future. The EAB train left the station 20 years ago. But along he way has picked many academic and practitioners that have a plan that you can easily implement. It really is no different than the many municipal tree decisions you currently make, such as removing low values trees, while finding ways to best manage your healthy ash tree population.

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM A Case Study - EAB Management from Municipal Perspective
Rich Wilson, City Forester for City of Denver, CO

In this case study discussion, we will learn about the City and County of Denver Forestry Department’s approach to establishing a management response plan for EAB. We'll explore factors guiding the selection of various tools from their toolbox including proactive treatments administered both in-house and through contracted services, canopy replacement opportunities, community engagement, and the lessons learned from their experience.

12:00 – 1:00 PM Lunch

1:00 – 1:45 PM Current Status of EAB in Oregon
Matt Mills, Emerald Ash Borer Support Specialist, Oregon Department of Forestry

This presentation will cover the known distribution of Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) in Oregon, actions the state took to prepare for EAB before its arrival, the roles of federal and state agencies and local partners, detection methods employed in Oregon, and the data sharing and outreach tools and materials created and utilized by state agencies and partners.

1:45 – 2:00 PM Break & Assemble Outside

2:00 – 3:45 PM Emerald Ash Borer- Tree Injection, Soil Injection & Bark Spray Demonstrations & Training 
Hannah Hampton, Technical Advisor, Rainbow Ecoscience  and Camilla Popp Ensenat, Pacific Northwest, Territory Manager, Rainbow Ecoscience

Discover the current industry standard options available for protecting your trees against EAB. During this field demonstration, you will learn the different tools and products for performing effective treatments. We will cover proper application methods such as; trunk injection, soil injection/soil drench, and systemic bark spray.

3:45 – 4:00 PM Closing Remarks and ISA Credits