Ash borer is real threat

Published 10:29 am Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Just the name alone — emerald ash borer — sounds like something from a B movie about alien invaders from Mars.

But the threat is no laughing matter and far more serious than a movie.

Ohio’s Department of Agriculture has expanded its quarantine to include all 88 counties, mirroring the national quarantine that prohibits taking hardwoods to non-quarantined areas.

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This has been a problem facing the nation’s forest system for years and is now confirmed to be impacting Wayne National Forest. Don’t be fooled into thinking that it isn’t a big deal.

It certainly is and can have a massive impact on our entire ecosystem.

Ash trees that become infested with the beetle typically die within five years.

One of Southern Ohio’s greatest assets is the natural beauty and resources that the national forest land provides. Anything that could damage this delicate ecosystem should be taken very seriously.

The key part of the quarantine deals with transporting firewood. The restriction basically says that firewood shouldn’t be transported to or from Ohio but can be moved inside the state.

Environmental scientists continue to look at ways to address this problem before it reaches epidemic proportions. That won’t be easy but we cannot simply ignore the problem.

Everything in nature is connected so something that could have the impact of annihilating ash trees could upset the delicate balance, creating long-lasting and unforeseen consequences.

Movie monsters from beyond the stars are make believe. This is a threat that is far more real.