UW-Madison Arboretum Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan

UPDATED 2/5/15
Original date: 2/4/14

In February 2015, Emerald Ash Borer has been confirmed on the south side of Madison, including in areas neighboring the Arboretum’s west side. Field staff continue to monitor the property for signs of the insect. Our EAB mgmt plan and other resources are available below.

In late November 2013, the presence of Emerald Ash Borer was confirmed on the city of Madison’s north side. Anticipating the Emerald Ash Borer’s arrival, the UW–Madison Arboretum has been developing a management plan for several years. Ash trees are not extensive on Arboretum grounds, though there are some in the woodland communities as well as in the horticultural collection. The primary objectives of the management plan are public safety, research, public awareness, and preservation when warranted for important conservation, historical, and educational value.

The current strategy in the Longenecker Horticultural Gardens is to allow EAB to infest ash specimens as a way to test those specimens’ resistance. Two trees in the collection may be preserved for conservation, history, and education reasons.

Ash species are not a major component in Arboretum woodlands and, given the impracticality of trying to combat EAB over a large area and the known effects of EAB infestation, no action will be taken to prevent or slow the spread of EAB infestation in Arboretum natural areas (unless related to an appropriate research project).

The primary research focus will be monitoring for the arrival of EAB on Arboretum property.

The Arboretum management plan, available below, has been developed in conjunction with the UW–Madison campus. The Arboretum has also developed for public use a list of native species to replace ash trees destroyed by or removed due to EAB.

Arboretum EAB Management Plan (PDF), updated March 2014
Arboretum Recommended Ash Tree Replacement List (PDF), updated links June 2016

Contact the Land Care Manager by email or call (608) 262-3289 with questions about EAB at the Arboretum.

Additional information about Emerald Ash Borer in Madison can be found at:

Emerald Ash Borer found on Madison’s South Side, Bill Novak, Madison.com, February 3, 2015

Onset of Emerald Ash Borer Means a Change in Madison’s Urban Landscape, Steven Elbow, The Capital Times, 11/26/13

City of Madison Emerald Ash Borer information

The Russell Labs, which consists of UW–Madison departments of Entomology, Forest and Wildlife Ecology, and Plant Pathology, has a very informative EAB informational site.

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