Although emerald ash borer (EAB) typically kills nearly 100% of the mature native ash trees it encounters in the Northeast, a small percentage not only survive, but remain healthy years after the vast majority of nearby trees have been killed. These trees, which have been found for every widespread Northeastern ash species, are known as “lingering ash” and provide hope because some have EAB resistance that is being used to breed highly resistant trees.

The Ecological Research Institute (ERI) developed the Monitoring and Managing Ash (MaMA) program, which facilitates detection of lingering ash through 1) data collection that determines where and when to search for lingering ash; and 2) integrating lingering ash detection into ash management.

MaMA has already detected over 260 lingering ash in long-invaded areas of New York and Connecticut, and enabled collection of material from many of them for resistance breeding at Cornell University. MaMA now plays a prominent role in the Tree Species in Peril initiative led by The Nature Conservancy in collaboration with the US Forest Service.

In this workshop, you will learn how to collect data for MaMA’s research projects and how to incorporate lingering tree detection into ash management. This workshop will include hands-on training at the Refuge in all of MaMA’s research projects, including MaMA Rapid Ash Mortality Assessments (MaMA RAMAs), how to establish ash monitoring plots and how to search for lingering ash. After the workshop ends at noon, there will be the option of joining us for a visit to an off-refuge site to look at black ash - if you will stay for this, please bring your own lunch.

Space for this workshop is limited, so please make sure to register soon. If you have any questions, please email them to [email protected], and for more information on MaMA, visit www.MonitoringAsh.org.

We suggest you wear boots and long pants and take all other appropriate precautions against possible encounters with biting bugs and wood nettles, and you are encouraged to bring a head net and repellent.

Workshop presented by ERI in collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Forest Pest First Detectors of the Vermont Urban & Community Forestry program and is funded by the Tree Species in Peril initiative.