FREE.  Advanced registration required.

Emerald ash borer (EAB, Agrilus planipennis) is an invasive and highly destructive wood boring beetle that infests and kills ash trees (Fraxinus spp.). EAB was first found in Michigan in 2002 and quickly spread across North America, killing hundreds of millions of native and planted ash trees. In 2022, EAB was found in Forest Grove, OR, the first detection on the West Coast. In 2024, subsequent EAB detections were made in rural Yamhill, Marion, and Clackamas Counties. Ash trees are common in both urban and natural environments in Oregon, providing essential ecosystem services like shade, erosion control, air and water filtration, and critical habitat. While EAB poses a significant threat to these trees, we’re fortunate to draw on over 20 years of research and experience from the Midwest and East Coast to slow its spread and mitigate its inevitable impacts to ecosystems, economies, and public health. This presentation will provide 1) an overview of EAB and ash biology, 2) updates to the State of Oregon’s ongoing EAB survey, management, and communication strategies, and 3) planning and management strategies for EAB in both urban and natural areas.

*Class approved for 1 hour Continuing Education credit for MG Perennials