Prepare Your Community
Non-native invasive forest pests, such as the emerald ash borer (EAB), Asian longhorn beetle (ALB) and hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), know no boundaries. Their arrival does not just affect private landowners; these pests affect communities as well. Plan ahead to minimize the severity of impacts and establish a solid foundation for recovery. Watch an Across the Fence episode to learn about the benefits of ash trees, how the Emerald Ash Borer will impact your community and what the community of Montpelier is doing to prepare for its' arrival.
START PLANNING NOW!
1. Educate yourself about the Invasive Forest Pests—Visit the Gallery of Invaders.
2. Learn about developing a Forest Pest Preparedness Plan—When forest pests such as EAB arrive in Vermont, this plan will guide your communities’ response. Remember- what you do now to prepare will strongly impact what you’ll be dealing with down the road. Read Vermont Forest Pest Preparedness: Planning Overview.
3. Form a local Forest Pest Planning and Response Team—Team members will help implement and guide the plan as well as keep abreast of, coordinate and communicate information to residents.
4. Brief the decision-makers—Meet with your community’s leadership and bring them up to speed on the issue. State staff can provide technical support with the latest information and strategy. A two-page overview, Vermot Forest Pest Planning: Is your community prepared?, and other outreach resources for briefing decision makers on EAB and the planning process are available.
5. Develop a timeline and who is responsible for writing the plan—$500 is available to high risk communities in Vermont to hire a consultant to write the plan. Apply for Vermont EAB Preparedness Plan Incentive.
6. Assess your community ‘s level of preparedness and prioritize action steps—This assessment will help your community identify the policies, protocols, resources (equipment, labor and funding) and other actions needed to efficiently and effectively respond to a pest infestation. Complete the Vermont Forest Pest Preparedness: Planning Worksheet (word doc) or PDF. The Vermont Forest Pest Preparedness: Community Resource Toolbox provides links and background information on all aspects of pest preparedness and response.
7. Formalize the plan and have it officially adopted by the Selectboard, Conservation Commission and/or other appropriate town committees.
8. Implement your preparedness plan.
The following resources will help your community reduce the risk of introduction and spread, mitigate the impacts of these pests, and prevent future catastrophic losses.
The Vermont Forest Pest Preparedness: Community Resource Toolbox provides links and background information on all aspects of pest preparedness and response.
Examples of EAB Community Preparedness Plans Developed by Vermont Municipalities
View the webinar, "Planning for EAB: Stories from Around the State" to learn more about the EAB planning process and the resources available as well as hear about the experiences and lessons learned from communities across Vermont.
Contact Caitlin Cusack (802-656-7746) for more information.