ANNAPOLIS, MD - April 20, 2007 - Standing along side Prince George’s County resident Helen Kittredge and local officials, Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown planted a flowering cherry “snow goose” tree (prunus serrulata) in Mrs. Kittredge’s front yard to kick off Earth Day and to launch an emerald ash borer tree replacement program. Mrs. Kittredge, along with about 700 other southern Prince George’s County residents, had ash trees removed as part of the effort to eradicate the emerald ash borer, the invasive and destructive pest responsible for the loss of more than 25 million ash trees in the Upper Mid-West states.
“The tree we planted today is symbolic,” said Lt. Governor Brown. “It represents the O’Malley-Brown Administration’s commitment to the environment. It also represents our commitment to our residents who have sacrificed their trees to help get rid of a destructive pest. We are very pleased to announce that we now have a tree replacement program that will bring back the beauty of the affected neighborhoods and help protect the environment - a great way to kick off Earth Day weekend.”
In order to stop the spread of the emerald ash borer, almost 25,000 ash trees were removed from a 21-square-mile area of Southern Prince George’s county woods, wetlands, and homeowner properties by the Maryland Departments of Agriculture (MDA) and Natural Resources (DNR). Maryland has partnered with four generous nurseries to replace homeowner trees, which were removed as part of the eradication effort. In addition, legislation (HB 1429) passed this session to fund replacement trees through DNR’s urban forestry program. Homeowners can choose one of three options to replace their trees:
Though the tree removal portion of the eradication effort is complete, Maryland’s work is not done. To ensure the elimination of this pest, surveillance will continue over the next three years through the setting of trap trees and careful monitoring of the area. It is important to remember that the quarantine imposed last August remains in place, prohibiting the movement of any ash trees, ash wood and all hardwood firewood out of Prince George’s County.
For more information about the emerald ash borer and the Maryland quarantine and eradication program, visit the national coordinated emerald ash borer web site, www.emeraldashborer.info and click on the “Maryland” link, or go directly to www.mda.state.md.us/plants-pests/eab. To report signs of the emerald ash borer or to request further information, contact the University of Maryland Home and Garden Information Center at 800-342-2507 or the Maryland Department of Agriculture at 410-841-5920.