Scarborough residents can learn more about fight against emerald ash borer at city meeting

Scarborough Mirror
January 9, 2014

Area residents on Thursday, Jan. 9, can hear City of Toronto plans to undo the extensive damage the emerald ash borer is causing to a pair of shoreline parks in Scarborough’s Guildwood area.

The invasive insect is set to wipe out nearly all of the city’s remaining ash trees within the next few years, and losses along the Scarborough Bluffs in areas heavily planted with ash will be particularly devastating.

“Many ash trees have died in the past year and tree removals are ongoing on streets and in parks,” said a release from the city this week.

Both Guild Park and South Marine Park were identified as “priority sites” in the fight against ash borer, and management plans were developed to removed hazardous dead ash, then replant other trees to replace them and remove invasive plants that may spread when the ash are gone.

Residents can hear about these plans, as well as about tree removals planned for the remainder of this winter, which may cause temporary park and trail closures, during a public meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Cedarbrook Community Centre on Eastpark Boulevard.

The city said trees have been marked for removal in the park with blue paint, and that additional site plans will be shown at the meeting.

More information about the city’s efforts to deal with the ash borer, which has included injecting some ash trees with a natural pesticide, can be seen at www.toronto.ca/trees