Page 10 - March-April2020 Vol37 No7
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GERMANTOWN By Jennifer Smith
Preparation for the Emerald Ash
Borer Epidemic in Metro Nashville
Metro Nashville Davidson County is residents. This effort raises the awareness Emerald Ash Borer
known for its beautiful tree-lined streets in our community regarding the (Agrilus planipennis)
and forested rolling hills. These trees implications of the EAB epidemic and
are important to our city! However, in value of our trees. Photo: Pennsylvania Department of Conservation
2014, the Tennessee Division of Forestry and Natural Resources - Forestry, bugwood.org
announced that the Emerald Ash Borer The Metro Public Works and the Metro
(EAB) had been detected in the County. Tree Advisory Committee (MTAC), • One highlight was the neighboring City
over the course of the last six years, have of Brentwood hosting an EAB talk by
With the progression of the EAB developed and implemented an EAB the Metro Nashville Speaker’s Bureau
epidemic to Middle Tennessee, an community awareness plan with public for forty of their staff and contractors.
urgent need grew to inform the education and outreach programs and
Metropolitan Government and citizens materials including the following: • Educational panels are exhibited at
of the implications of this disaster, and a • In September 2017, an EAB epidemic festivals such as Earth Day with EAB
comprehensive educational outreach plan brochures. A new comprehensive
was developed. response educational session was held display has been developed to exhibit in
for Metro department heads which also Metro community centers and libraries.
Community Need included representatives from the six
satellite cities, extension service, and • Members of the Metro Nashville City
The EAB epidemic will adversely affect the Tennessee Division of Forestry. Council presented an EAB Resolution
every native ash tree, causing all these The Urban Forester from Knoxville, April 16, 2019, to the full Council.
trees to die, after infestation, in two to a featured speaker, encouraged a
five years. The dying ash trees have the proactive response to the epidemic, • Media Releases, TV features, website
potential to bring down powerlines, block noting that the longer you wait to trees.nashville.gov and social media are
roads and driveways, damage homes and manage the borer, the more it will cost. bringing EAB Awareness to the citizens.
property, and cause human fatalities. • In 2018, Metro Water Services inserted
EAB mailers for the general public in • Metro departments are finalizing the
Not only will Nashville lose its native monthly bills. Plans are for another Metro EAB Management Plan. The goal
ash trees, the city and its residents will insert this spring. of this plan is to maintain the quality
be faced with a dangerous situation. • MTAC created the popular Managing and safety of the over 18,000 acres of
Estimates place the fiscal impacts on the Emerald Ash Borer Epidemic in Metro properties held by Parks, Public
Nashville to be in the millions of dollars. Nashville brochure. It is distributed at Works, General Services, the Metro
Nashville and its citizens need to be all programs and events and is available Board of Education, Water Services and
prepared now for the risks, and made to download online at trees.nashville. other departments.
aware of management options. gov or by calling Metro Call Center,
the HUB, at 311 to have one mailed.
In addition to the hazards and costs Nashville Electric Service planners who
brought on by the loss of these native work in the field give the EAB brochure
trees, a major damaging impact will affect to customers.
the urban forest canopy. In Davidson • MTAC has created an EAB Speaker’s
County alone, this epidemic could affect Bureau to provide trained speakers to
up to ten percent of its trees. Metro civic groups and have spoken to clubs,
Nashville needs trees for their many churches, festivals and neighborhood
environmental and socio-economic associations. As the effects of the EAB
benefits. The EAB educational outreach epidemic become more visible in the
includes these benefits, and encourages community, we expect requests for
replanting a variety of tree species for programs to escalate. Either a flip
diversity with “right tree-right place” chart or power point presentation, (to
awareness for a sustainable urban forest. complement the brochure), is being
used for presentations. The educational
Resources materials, in digital format, may be
freely shared with other communities
Presentations and written materials by contacting Jennifer Smith at
display the value of trees as a public Jennifer.smith3@nashville.gov.
utility that improves air quality, manages
stormwater, supports public health, and
improves quality of life for Nashville
10 TPW March/April 2020
