RE: Emerald ash borer devastates trees in two east-side parks

Dear Editor,

Re "Emerald ash borer devastates trees in two east-side parks" (Feb 5), injecting Ash trees with TreeAzin is called "expensive." Relative to what? Treatment costs on average $240 per tree and likely has to be repeated not more than 3 to 4 times every other year. By then scientists expect a natural predator (non-stinging wasps) to have been established which will reduce the emerald ash borer to a minor pest.

In comparison, cutting down an Ash tree can cost $1,000 or more, plus the cost of replanting (typically several times over, as the mortality rate of young trees is very high). Just considering City-owned trees, this will amount to perhaps $100 million over the next 6 to 10 years. And then there is the cost to homeowners: Loss of cooling shade, loss of property values, reduced air quality, loss of esthetic values.

Homeowners would be wise to opt for TreeAzin treatment, even if they bear the cost of treating City-owned trees themselves.
Under the City's current policy -- essentially giving up on fighting the EAB, by treating only about 1 % of Ottawa's Ash trees -- taxpayers are in for a huge bill. Now that'll be expensive.

Erwin Dreessen