Lessons from the Frontline: Exploring How Stakeholders May Respond to Emerald Ash Borer Management in Europe

The emerald ash borer (EAB) has caused extensive damage and high mortality to native ash trees (<i>Fraxinus</i>; sp.) in North America. As European countries battle with the deadly pathogen <i>Hymenoscyphus fraxineus </i>(ash dieback) affecting European ash (<i>Fraxinus...

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Main Authors: Mariella Marzano, Clare Hall, Norman Dandy, Cherie LeBlanc Fisher, Andrea Disstorrance, Robert Haight
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-06-01
Series:Forests
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/6/617
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spelling doaj-f7fe93015f534e7885d1985452bafe4d2020-11-25T03:07:58ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072020-06-011161761710.3390/f11060617Lessons from the Frontline: Exploring How Stakeholders May Respond to Emerald Ash Borer Management in EuropeMariella Marzano0Clare Hall1Norman Dandy2Cherie LeBlanc Fisher3Andrea Disstorrance4Robert Haight5Forest Research, Northern Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland EH25 9SY, UKForest Research, Northern Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland EH25 9SY, UKSir William Roberts Centre for Sustainable Land Use, School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Wales LL57 2DG, UKUSDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Evanston, IL, 60201, USABureau of Forest Management, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, WI 53707-7921, USAUSDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USAThe emerald ash borer (EAB) has caused extensive damage and high mortality to native ash trees (<i>Fraxinus</i>; sp.) in North America. As European countries battle with the deadly pathogen <i>Hymenoscyphus fraxineus </i>(ash dieback) affecting European ash (<i>Fraxinus excelsior</i>), there is concern that the arrival of EAB will signal the demise of this much-loved tree. While Europe prepares for EAB it is vital that we understand the social dimensions that will likely influence the social acceptability of potential management measures, and experiences from the USA can potentially guide this. We draw on differing sources including a literature review, documentary analysis, and consultation with key informants from Chicago and the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. In this paper, we focus on EAB management responses that involve chemical applications, tree felling and replanting, and biological control, and assess their likely social acceptability to stakeholders based on the perceived risks and benefits. Benefits involve protecting specific ash trees and slowing the spread of EAB across the landscape. Risks include collateral harm from insecticide use on human and environmental health, financial costs and liabilities, and the effectiveness of each approach. Biological control and replacing ash with other species are likely to be largely acceptable across contexts and stakeholder groups but pre-emptive felling and insecticide application could be more problematic if seeking widespread social acceptance. Based on our observations from the evidence collected we offer suggestions for approaching EAB management in Europe with a focus on improving prospects of social acceptability. Strong engagement will be necessary to establish the relevance and reason for using different management approaches and to build awareness and trust.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/6/617emerald ash borersocial acceptabilityrisk/benefitpest managementtrees
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Mariella Marzano
Clare Hall
Norman Dandy
Cherie LeBlanc Fisher
Andrea Disstorrance
Robert Haight
spellingShingle Mariella Marzano
Clare Hall
Norman Dandy
Cherie LeBlanc Fisher
Andrea Disstorrance
Robert Haight
Lessons from the Frontline: Exploring How Stakeholders May Respond to Emerald Ash Borer Management in Europe
Forests
emerald ash borer
social acceptability
risk/benefit
pest management
trees
author_facet Mariella Marzano
Clare Hall
Norman Dandy
Cherie LeBlanc Fisher
Andrea Disstorrance
Robert Haight
author_sort Mariella Marzano
title Lessons from the Frontline: Exploring How Stakeholders May Respond to Emerald Ash Borer Management in Europe
title_short Lessons from the Frontline: Exploring How Stakeholders May Respond to Emerald Ash Borer Management in Europe
title_full Lessons from the Frontline: Exploring How Stakeholders May Respond to Emerald Ash Borer Management in Europe
title_fullStr Lessons from the Frontline: Exploring How Stakeholders May Respond to Emerald Ash Borer Management in Europe
title_full_unstemmed Lessons from the Frontline: Exploring How Stakeholders May Respond to Emerald Ash Borer Management in Europe
title_sort lessons from the frontline: exploring how stakeholders may respond to emerald ash borer management in europe
publisher MDPI AG
series Forests
issn 1999-4907
publishDate 2020-06-01
description The emerald ash borer (EAB) has caused extensive damage and high mortality to native ash trees (<i>Fraxinus</i>; sp.) in North America. As European countries battle with the deadly pathogen <i>Hymenoscyphus fraxineus </i>(ash dieback) affecting European ash (<i>Fraxinus excelsior</i>), there is concern that the arrival of EAB will signal the demise of this much-loved tree. While Europe prepares for EAB it is vital that we understand the social dimensions that will likely influence the social acceptability of potential management measures, and experiences from the USA can potentially guide this. We draw on differing sources including a literature review, documentary analysis, and consultation with key informants from Chicago and the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. In this paper, we focus on EAB management responses that involve chemical applications, tree felling and replanting, and biological control, and assess their likely social acceptability to stakeholders based on the perceived risks and benefits. Benefits involve protecting specific ash trees and slowing the spread of EAB across the landscape. Risks include collateral harm from insecticide use on human and environmental health, financial costs and liabilities, and the effectiveness of each approach. Biological control and replacing ash with other species are likely to be largely acceptable across contexts and stakeholder groups but pre-emptive felling and insecticide application could be more problematic if seeking widespread social acceptance. Based on our observations from the evidence collected we offer suggestions for approaching EAB management in Europe with a focus on improving prospects of social acceptability. Strong engagement will be necessary to establish the relevance and reason for using different management approaches and to build awareness and trust.
topic emerald ash borer
social acceptability
risk/benefit
pest management
trees
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/6/617
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