With the challenges COVID-19 has brought to every day life, the ongoing danger to local trees from the emerald ash borer may have been put in the back burner.

With the long weekend here, Nature Conservancy Canada is trying to bring awareness of this highly destructive beetle to the forefront of people's minds to reduce its spread. 

"Black Ash forests, in particular, play a critical ecological role along the rivers and streams of southeastern Manitoba – slowing floodwaters, reducing erosion, shading water to keep it cool, and providing habitat for hundreds of species," says Cary Hamel, Director of Conservation with the Nature Conservancy of Canada – Manitoba Region.

"As far as we know, it hasn't spread very far, and that's a good thing. That's a testament to people detecting it and importantly, not spreading firewood."

According to Hamel, emerald ash borer was first detected in Manitoba in Winnipeg a few years back and is still a concern. The Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada has assessed the black ash as threatened, and emerald ash borers have had a devastating impact on forests and wildlife habitat.

NCC says the emerald ash borer also delivers a significant economic hit to communities having to deal with dying trees, restoring areas, and handling these pests. It also extends commercially, with ash tree wood used in many commercial items. Natural Resources Canada says 99 percent of ash trees are killed within five to seven years of emerald ash borer invading an area.

Unfortunately, Hamel believes this is something we will be dealing with indefinitely. There is a hope ash trees the furthest north will be protected, with the winters being too cold for the insect, and scientists are working on cures. Currently, the best defence is still to keep your firewood at home.