Fight Back Against Emerald Ash Borer; Inventory Community Trees

As more Ohio counties are quarantined for the emerald ash borer (EAB), preparing for the invasive insect through tree inventory is the first step in putting together a comprehensive community management plan.

Ohio State University Extension in Greene County will host a Tree Inventory Program from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 16, at OSU Extension-Greene County, 100 Fairground Road, Xenia, Ohio.
Registration is $25, payable by Sept. 9. Registration fee includes training materials, access to analysis of data, technical assistance and data for community planning.

The program will walk local legislators, state and county park staff, homeowner association members and community volunteers including Master Gardeners through step-by-step training on how to conduct a tree inventory.

“A tree inventory provides the core information needed for a management plan, which outlines a municipality’s objectives to address the impact of the emerald ash borer on the urban forest,” said Cindy Meyer, an Ohio State University Extension educator in agriculture and natural resources. “This data helps communities anticipate cost, work force, and resources needed to lessen the social and economic impact of massive tree death. “

OSU and ODNR experts will be on hand to discuss a variety of topics
including: how to set up a tree inventory; how to approach public officials; learn about ODNR Urban Forestry resources; identifying the specifics of a management plan; how communities can become a Tree City USA; and becoming familiar with the i-Tree software.

Speakers at the event include; Steve Mehaffie, Cecilia Mehaffie and Thais Reiff, OSU Greene County Master Gardener Volunteers; Wendi Van Buren, ODNR Regional Urban Forester; and Dr. Davis Sydnor, Professor, School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University.

“The i-Tree software allows communities to see what their trees are worth,” said Wendi Van Buren, urban forester with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and a speaker at the event. “Tree inventories using i-Tree are one of many tools communities need to strengthen their urban forestry advocacy efforts by quantifying the environmental services that trees provide.”

Participants will learn how to organize a tree inventory project, how to recruit and train volunteers, how to organize street routes for volunteers, how to identify and measure trees, how to record and organize data, how to prepare and build a database and how to prepare a final report.

The event is sponsored by the OSU Extension Greene County Master Gardeners, OSU Extension-Greene County, OSU Extension “Why Trees Matter” team and the OSU Extension Miami Valley Extension Education and Research Area (EERA).

For more information or to register, call the Greene County Extension office at 937-372-9971.

Greene County Master Gardener Steve Mehaffie visits with Greene County Commissioners Marilyn Reid and Rick Perales regarding the tree inventory in Beavercreek.  Approximately 10,500 trees were identified, inventoried and entered into a data base for management purposes.  Greene County Master Gardeners have completed tree inventories for the City of Xenia and most all other municipalities in Greene County.