Neighborhood Ash Trees in Danger from Exotic Beetle

A beetle could kill the neighborhood’s ash trees if they aren’t indentified and inoculated, officials said.

The Emerald Ash Borer is an exotic beetle from Asia. Scientists first found it in Michigan in 2002 and since then, it’s killed more than 20 million trees. If untreated, 99 percent of ash trees will die. That's about one-third of all trees in the neighborhood. 

To raise awareness, Ward 47 Ald. Ameya Pawar’s office is hosting a meeting to raise awareness about the Emerald Ash Borer. Officials are asking residents to help identify ash trees in the neighborhood. 

The forum—set for 7 p.m. Wednesday at Lane Tech High School 2501 W. Addison St.—is free and open to the public.

The ward’s Green Council will join John Friedmann of the North River Commission and Pawar in helping residents identify ash trees.

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