It’s not just about the trees when one looks at the impact of the ash borer beetle infestation, says Centre Wellington Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj.
On July 15, Ross-Zuj shared what she considered an interesting presentation recently at a Grand River Conservation Authority board meeting.
“It was an excellent presentation.” She believed work was being done to bring a summation of that information to council.
“It was a very different approach to things we have heard in the past.”
Ross-Zuj said there are real concerns regarding urban forests and how the beetle “has targeted all of our ash trees.”
She added there are reports of the beetle in Wellington County.
“But more importantly, we need to look at how these trees then become hazards in our community. There has to be a shift in how to deal with that hazard.”
She explained that with the destruction of the tree, the base is weakened to a point “where you can virtually push them over.”
The mayor explained that means the trees are then an extreme hazard in terms of windstorms and any kind of severe weather conditions.
“In particular, there are concerns with the urban forests because they lie along pathways to schools in proximity to people’s homes. We have to be careful and we need to be aware of what may happen if the tree falls over.”
“It’s just a different approach to planning and what actions may be needed.”
She said the GRCA will be targeting trees growing along public pathways or urban forests in close proximity to people.
