Governor S Proclamation Regarding EAB Awareness Week

The State of New Hampshire

By Her Excellency

Margaret Wood Hassan, Governor

A Proclamation

EMERALD ASH BORERAWARENESS WEEK

MAY 19-25, 2013

WHEREAS,The emerald ash borer is an invasive insect from East Asia, threatening the health of New Hampshire’s ash trees; and

WHEREAS,The emerald ash borer is capable of infesting and killing healthy ash trees; and

WHEREAS,The emerald ash borer is transported long distances in ash firewood, unprocessed wood products, and nursery stock; and

WHEREAS, The emerald ash borer is found in nineteen states and is responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of ash trees since first detected in Detroit, Michigan in 2002; and

WHEREAS, The emerald ash borer was found in Concord, New Hampshire; and

WHEREAS,Ash trees are an important part of New Hampshire’s forests and natural communities, with white ash comprising 4% of the state’srural and community hardwood forest trees and black, green and white ash all important trees in New Hampshire’s natural communities and wildlife habitat; and

WHEREAS,White ash is an important part of the wood products industry, environment and economy of New Hampshire; and

WHEREAS,Ash is an important landscape tree inNew Hampshire and by conservative estimates emerald ash borer infestation would cost more than $250 million to New Hampshire municipalities and residents to treat, remove, or replace landscape ash trees by 2019; and

WHEREAS,The economic and ecological costs associated with emerald ash borer infestation and the impacts to communities, nurseries, and wood products industries are reduced when emerald ash borer is detected early.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, MARGARET WOOD HASSAN, GOVERNOR of the State of New Hampshire, do hereby proclaim May 19-25, 2013, asEMERALD ASH BORERAWARENESS WEEK in the State of New Hampshire and urge all citizens to learn more about emerald ash borer, to make a commitment to using either certified heat-treated or locally produced firewood–buy it where you burn it, to identify ash trees on your property and inspect them for signs of emerald ash borer, and to report suspicious ash trees and insects to state and federal plant regulatory officials at or 800-444-8978.

Given this 23rd day of April, in the year of Our Lord two thousand and thirteen, and the independence of the United States of America, two hundred and thirty-seven.