The emerald ash borer is an invasive beetle that arrived in North America via wood shipping crates from north-eastern Asia. First discovered in Michigan, this destructive species has spread throughout the U.S., Ontario and Quebec, wreaking havoc on ash trees and the surrounding ecosystem. The Ottawa region has been dramatically impacted with entire stands of trees lost.

Killing the ash trees is just one aspect of emerald ash borer damage. The loss of the trees has a cascading effect on the rest of the ecosystem. A dead ash tree has no leaves, creating holes in the canopy and as often as not allowing sunlight to reach the forest floor feeding any invasive species that have been waiting for their opportunity to thrive.

Any plants or animals that depend on the ash tree for protection or food are negatively impacted by the loss of the mature ash trees. Loss of ash trees can have a detrimental impact on the makeup of the soil leading to increased erosion and further environmental degradation.