Slowing the decline of our ash from the impacts of non-native emerald ash borer

The invasive Emerald Ash Borer has caused North America's ash trees to become critically endangered species. Without immediate intervention, most ash will die within a decade of initial infestation. While biological controls are an ideal solution for long-term control, they can take decades to identify and scale-up. Our long-term study with the City of Toronto demonstrates that botanical insecticides can prevent immediate death of ash trees, allowing high levels of survivorship even ~20 years after the beetle arrived in the region. The hope is that treated trees will continue to thrive until longer-term solutions can save the species from extinction.