TREE Fund

Tree Research & Education Endowment Fund

2011 General Grant Research Archive John Z. Duling Grant 

The Economics of Emerald Ash Borer Management: A Comparison of Doing Nothing, Preemptive Removal, Replacement, and Treatment

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2011| Dr. Richard J. Hauer, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis (Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), plays a significant role in the health and extent of management of native North American ash species in urban forests. An economic analysis of management options was performed to aid decision makers in preparing for likely future infestations. Separate ash tree population valuations were derived from the i-Tree Streets program and the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers (CTLA) methodology. A relative economic analysis was used to compare a control option (do-nothing approach, only removing ash trees as they die) to three distinct management options: 1) preemptive removal of all ash trees over a 5 yr period, 2) preemptive removal of all ash trees and replacement with comparable non-ash trees, or 3) treating the entire population of ash trees with insecticides to minimize mortality. For each valuation and management option, an annual analysis was performed for both the remaining ash tree population and those lost to emerald ash borer. Retention of ash trees using insecticide treatments typically retained greater urban forest value, followed by doing nothing (control), which was better than preemptive removal and replacement. Preemptive removal without tree replacement, which was the least expensive management option, also provided the lowest net urban forest value over the 20-yr simulation. A “no emerald ash borer” scenario was modeled to further serve as a benchmark for each management option and provide a level of economic justification for regulatory programs aimed at slowing the movement of emerald ash borer.

Year: 2011

Funding Duration: 1-3 years

Grant Program: John Z Duling

Grant Title: The Economics and Emerald Ash Borer Management: A Comparison of Doing Nothing, Preemptive Removal, Replacement, and Treatment in the Urban Forest

Researcher: Richard Hauer

Key words:

Peer Reviewed Publications from Grant:

  • Hauer, R.J. and W. Peterson. 2017. Effects of Emerald Ash Borer on Municipal Forestry Budgets. Landscape and Urban Planning 157: 98 – 105. DOI 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2016.05.023
  • VanNatta, A.R., R.H. Hauer,  N.M. Schuettpelz. 2012. Economic Analysis of Emerald Ash Borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) Management Options. Journal of Economic Entomology 105(1):196–206.

General Audience/Trade Publications:

Short Discussion Articles/Conference Proceedings:

Hauer, R. and W. Peterson. 2016. Effects of Emerald Ash Borer on Municipal Forestry Budgets. Conference Proceedings of the International Society of Arboriculture 92nd Annual Conference & Trade Show. Fort Worth, TX. August 13 – 15, 2016

Presentations:

  • Hauer, R.J. and A.R. VanNatta. 2016. Emerald Ash Borer Management: Viewing Through an Economic, Ecologic, and Social Lens. Society of American Foresters 2016 National Convention: Our Transcontinental Land Ethic: Exploring Differences That Unite Us. Oral Presentation. Madison, WI. November 2 – 6, 2016
  • Hauer, R. and W. Peterson. 2016. Effects of Emerald Ash Borer on Municipal Forestry Budgets. International Society of Arboriculture 92nd Annual Conference & Trade Show. Poster Presentation. Fort Worth, TX. August 13 – 17, 2016
  • Hauer, R.J. 2016. Cost/Benefit Data, Why There Is a Cost to Not Maintaining Trees. Resources, Tools, Techniques and Strategies for Managing EAB. Oral Presentation. Appleton, WI. April 6th, 2016
  • Hauer, R.J. 2016. Back to the Future: The Biological, Economic, and Management Realities of Emerald Ash Borer and Dutch Elm Disease FREC Spring 2016 Seminar. Blacksburg, VA April 1, 2016
  • Hauer, R.J. 2016. The ABC’s (Associated Benefits and Cost’s) of EAB Management. 2016 Garden State Tree Conference. Oral Presentation. Atlantic City, NJ. March 10 – 11, 2016
  • Hauer R.J. 2016. Back to the Future: The Biological, Economic, and Management Realities of Emerald Ash Borer and Dutch Elm Disease. Second International Conference on Urban Tree Diversity. Oral Presentation. Melbourne, Australia. February 22 – 23, 2016

For more information on this project, contact the researcher via TREE Fund at treefund@treefund.org.