Are We Creating The Conditions For Something Catastrophic?

I looked up at my massive mature Ash tree with sadness. The crown of the tree has died to the point where only 20% or less remains. The tree is approximately 80 feet tall - and my front lawn is going to look stupid without it.

How did my tree die? How it died is more complicated than who killed it.

I remember seeing these Milk carton photo's of the Asian Longhorn Beetle a number of years ago - laughing and thinking it was some kind of joke. In 2002 I remember when they discovered the Emerald Ash borer in Michigan and began warning us all about the pending disaster.

Like all catastrophe's nobody seemed to believe what was happening. The Emerald Ash Borer has killed tens of millions of trees throughout North Eastern North America (60 million by some estimates). It is also said that it has killed 99% of the large Ash tree canopy.

My tree was about 50% dead when I inherited - but I knew all the signs. The city had big X's on the A sh trees on boulevards throughout my neighborhood signaling replacement. Opting to replace the trees with other species rather than treat the infestation.

The cost to treat your tree is $300-$500 a year. If your tree hasn't experienced more than a 50% decline you might be able to save it with insecticide injections. My tree has no value at all except shade value as a tree with barely any leaves - my Ash tree unfortunately needs to be cut down and the wood needs to be taken somewhere appropriate at destroyed.

The Emerald Ash Borer is an Asian insect that feeds on various native North American ash species. It overwhelms the inside of the tree and adults feed on the outer canopy - eventually killing the tree. This insect was introduced to us through the wonders of Globalization. Most scientists say the infestation was the result of a hijacking insect who probably arrived on a wooden skid.

Native Ash trees are almost gone from the landscape in North America. Most people cant afford the expensive treatment (including cities). One little bug has wiped out one of our biggest and proudest tree species. The plan seems to be for scientists to collect as many seeds as they can - and protect as many healthy live specimens as they can.

Our system is fragile to invaders. If the Emerald Ash Borer was an insect that caused more catastrophe (lets say famine) would it get more attention by our scientists? Could we contain it? Is the Ash tree a victim to a world community that wasn't ready to deal with invaders from all nations?

When you drive into California they inspect you for produce - trying to keep any invaders out of their state. At the Federal level in Canada and the United States it seems like we are not doing enough. We certainly like the flow of cheap goods from Asia - but if we are going to continue this way - they could at least throw a bug bomb in every shipping container that hits our ports. The Ash tree might not provide us with food, shelter and protection - but birds and other wildlife have special relationships with various species of trees - will the loss of the Ash tree cause catastrophe in the Animal Kingdom in a way that we haven't envisioned yet? Were we meant to have this level of interconnection between regions and nations - or are we creating the conditions for something even more catastrophic?

Ryan Geddes is a writer and entreprenuer located in Toronto Canada. When he's not writing, hes helping with House&Canvas Furniture Paint.