The emerald ash borer is one of the most difficult pests now confronting the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). By spring 2006, it infested much of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as significant portions of northern Indiana and Ohio, and killed more than 20 million trees. This past summer, outbreaks were detected in four communities in northern Illinois; and an earlier Maryland outbreak was rediscovered, despite eradication efforts. Ten more states may already have infestations—they are vulnerable to beetles that fly from nearby sites or are moved by humans, e.g., in firewood—Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. So far, the pest has cost municipalities, property owners, and the nursery and forest industries tens of millions of dollars.

While this situation is grave, it is not too late to protect the vast majority of ash trees in the United States. Protecting these trees will maintain the ecological integrity of our forests, protect the ash timber supply, and save hundreds of communities the huge cost of removing trees killed by the emerald ash borer.

The threat posed by the emerald ash borer is so grave that we believe a much higher level of funding is needed than that proposed by the president, House, and Senate. Under these extraordinary circumstances, we ask that elected officials commit $90 million to USDA/APHIS’ efforts against the emerald ash borer. With higher funding, the cooperative program between USDA/APHIS and affected states could be expanded to prevent additional infestations, keep people from spreading pests, prepare vulnerable states, and develop better detection and management tools. These are essential to prevent the loss if ash trees from the forests, city streets, and backyards throughout the United States.