By Eileen Buckley
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-973852.mp3
Buffalo, NY – An invasive beetle has arrived in the city of Buffalo affecting some ash trees. WBFO'S Eileen Buckley says the Emerald Ash Borer is a small, but destructive beetle.
The beetle was first discovered nine years ago in Michigan and has been slowly spreading toward the northeast. It is to blame for the death and decline of tens of millions of ash trees in the US. State DEC Regional Director Abbey Snyder says the beetles have been discovered in at least a dozen trees at South Park.
The city removed ash trees from its planting list back in 2003, lowering the population. Andy Rabb is the city's deputy public works commissioner. He says there are about a thousand ash trees remaining on city streets.
But about ten percent of the trees at Olmsted Parks are ash trees. Thomas Herrera-Mischler leads Olmsted. He says they've already raised funding to begin treating the trees with inoculations immediately.
The city and Olmsted Parks Conservancy have been working with the state DEC for over a year to prepare for the outbreak to minimize the impact on the historic Olmsted parks and parkways.