Expansion of the emerald ash borer regulated area into the city of Burnaby

OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 16, 2024 /CNW/ - Canadian Food Inspection Agency

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has updated its regulated areas for emerald ash borer (EAB - Agrilus planipennis) to include the City of Burnaby, in an effort to slow the insect's spread.

The regulated area in British-Columbia now includes the City of Burnaby along with the City of Vancouver, the University of British Columbia (UBC) campus, and the University Endowment Lands (UEL).

EAB is commonly spread through the movement of firewood and other infested ash wood products, although it can also spread on its own by flying up to 10 kilometers.

Effective immediately, ash material (such as logs, branches and woodchips) and all species of firewood cannot be moved outside of the regulated area without permission from the CFIA. If you need to move ash material, please contact your local CFIA office to request written authorization.

Although the EAB poses no threat to human health, it is highly destructive to ash trees. It has already killed millions of ash trees in regulated areas in Canada and the United States and poses a major economic and environmental threat to urban and forested areas of North America.

The CFIA will continue to survey and monitor the spread of this pest in British Columbia and will continue to work with federal, provincial, municipal and First Nations partners and organizations to slow its spread.

If you spot EAB outside regulated areas, report it to the CFIA to help stop the spread.

Quick facts

• EAB primarily destroys ash trees and is not known to attack soft wood species of trees, such as pine and spruce.
• EAB is native to China and eastern Asia. Its presence in Canada was first confirmed in 2002 and has since been found in six provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia.
• In July of 2024, an EAB infested tree was identified in the municipality of Burnaby, the tree has since been removed and properly disposed of per the CFIA's requirements.
• CFIA regulates this pest to protect Canada's forests, municipal trees and nurseries.

Associated links

• Additional information on the emerald ash borer
• Don't move firewood

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SOURCE Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)

Contacts: CFIA Media Relations, 613-773-6600