%0 Journal Article %A Daniel W. McKenney %A John H. Pedlar %A Denys Yemshanov %A D. Barry Lyons %A Kathy L. Campbell %A Kevin Lawrence %T Estimates of the Potential Cost of Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) in Canadian Municipalities %D 2012 %R 10.48044/jauf.2012.014 %J Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF) %P 81-91 %V 38 %N 3 %X 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. %U https://auf.isa-arbor.com/content/isa/38/3/81.full.pdf