@article {McKenney81, author = {Daniel W. McKenney and John H. Pedlar and Denys Yemshanov and D. Barry Lyons and Kathy L. Campbell and Kevin Lawrence}, title = {Estimates of the Potential Cost of Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) in Canadian Municipalities}, volume = {38}, number = {3}, pages = {81--91}, year = {2012}, doi = {10.48044/jauf.2012.014}, publisher = {Arboriculture \& Urban Forestry (AUF)}, abstract = {Emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive phloem-feeding insect causing extensive mortality to ash (Fraxinus sp.) in North America. Economic costs associated with EAB-related mortality of street and backyard trees in Canadian urban areas were estimated over a 30-year time horizon. The approach employed a simple spread model to approximate EAB arrival times at each community based on three maximum spread rates: slow (\~{}10 km/year), medium (\~{}30 km/year), and fast (\~{}50 km/year). Costs are estimated for four discount rates (0\%, 2\%, 4\%, and 10\%) and three treatment rates (0\%, 10\%, and 50\% of trees treated with an insecticide). Ash density along urban roads was estimated from a variety of sources, including a recently developed survey that allows for rapid assessment of street tree compositions. Based on the 30 km/year spread rate, a 4\% discount rate, and a 10\% treatment rate, the present value of the costs is estimated to be approximately CAD $524 million (2010 currency rate); this value increases to roughly $890 million when costs associated with backyard trees are included. These estimates are conservative because they focus only on damage to street (and backyard) trees; nonetheless, their magnitude suggests considerable justification for investments to slow the spread of EAB in Canada.}, issn = {1935-5297}, URL = {https://auf.isa-arbor.com/content/38/3/81}, eprint = {https://auf.isa-arbor.com/content/38/3/81.full.pdf}, journal = {Arboriculture \& Urban Forestry (AUF)} }