Effective Forest Management in Areas Impacted by Emerald Ash Borer

Emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive insect from Asia that was detected in Ontario in 2002 and has caused severe declines in ash trees. EAB is able to kill a healthy ash tree in 3-4 years and has caused declines of up to 99% in some areas 8-10 years after arriving. Although there is substantial research on EAB and its impacts, there is not a lot of research on the aftermath of EAB. Credit Valley Conservation, a conservation authority in Ontario, has noticed an abundance of invasive plants and ash regeneration in areas impacted by EAB. This is resulting in degraded habitats since native plant species are being suppressed. This project seeks to (1) identify optimal management techniques to deal with the invasive plant increase and ash regeneration, (2) use GIS (geographic information systems) to identify areas where restoration should be prioritized, and (3) create restoration plans for the priority restoration areas.

Faculty Supervisor:

Sandy Smith

Student:

Monique Dosanjh

Partner:

Credit Valley Conservation

Discipline:

Architecture and design

Sector:

Other

University:

University of Toronto