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The emerald ash borer (EAB) is an exotic pest of ash trees. It is native to Asia and thought to have arrived in the United States in solid wood packing material from its native Asia. It was first detected in the Detroit, Michigan/Windsor, Ontario area in July 2002. BECAUSE OF EAB, MILLIONS ASH TREES HAVE DIED IN THE CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES.
USDA estimates that at the national level, if the Emerald Ash Borer went unchecked in the lower 48 states,
the undiscounted loss could range from $20 - $60 billion dollars. Many consider it far more serious than gypsy moth, and perhaps equal to the chestnut blight.
The greenhouse and nursery industry is the second largest agricultural industry in Maryland. It accounts for $303.8 million in cash receipts. (Maryland Agricultural Statistics Service, Farm Receipts in 2002)
Ash trees are one of the most common andscaping trees used in the U.S. and are common in western Maryland
forests.
Ash wood is used for all traditional applications of hardwood from flooring and cabinets to baseball bats.
Ash is the most common tree in Baltimore - 293,000 trees, 10.4% of trees total population.
Ash accounts for 5,982,000 - 6,591,000 trees in the Baltimore
metro area. USDA has estimated losses could exceed $227,568,000 in the Baltimore area alone.
Galvin citing DNR, MDA, and USDA sources 2003
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