Natural environment

QTNca’s Natural Environment committee will be hosting an information session on the Lymantria dispar dispar (LDD, i.e. European Gypsy Moth) egg mass removal and is also calling for volunteers to help remove egg masses throughout the community. See below for more information on these events!

UPDATED – Information session on egg mass removal – Nov 6 @ 2:00 PM

This short session on how to remove LDD egg masses will take place on Arkell Street during the weekend on November 6 @ 2:00 PM, weather dependent. Removing egg masses now is a way to reduce the number of caterpillars that will hatch in the spring. If you are interested in this session or missed it and are still interested, please email nature.qtn@gmail.com to get the details.

We encourage you to attend the session to learn how you can remove the egg mass from your property. Want to learn more about the LDD and what the City of Ottawa is doing, click here: https://ottawa.ca/en/living-ottawa/environment-conservation-and-climate/trees-and-urban-forests/tree-and-forest-health/gypsy-moths#current-status

Call for volunteers to remove egg masses – Anytime you’re free!

We are looking for volunteers to assist in the removal of LDD egg masses from trees in Frank Ryan Park and Elmhurst Park. Safety first: Egg masses within arm’s reach will be targeted. Those who volunteer will be asked to attend our information session on how to safely remove the egg masses. The removal will be done on your own schedule. Special call for those in need of volunteering hours for high school or other requirements. If you are interested, please email nature.qtn@gmail.com for more information.

Funding is still available for 2021 and interested applicants are encouraged to visit the City’s program website at nation.on.ca/eab. Additional details on this program were shared recently on Coun. Kavanagh’s Bay Ward Bulletin:

The City of Ottawa has lost thousands of ash trees due to the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). This invasive beetle, native to Asia was first detected in North America in 2002. It has since killed tens of millions of ash trees and continues to spread, causing considerable economic and ecological damage.

Starting summer 2019, the City of Ottawa will be shifting to inject ash trees every 2 years (ash trees were previously injected every year). This approach is in line with researched best practices for tree injections and is supported by monitoring of declining emerald ash borer populations. There is no action required on the part of residents. Questions can be directed to 3-1-1.

Private Property Ash Tree Replacement Program

The City of Ottawa has lost thousands of ash trees due to the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). This invasive beetle, native to Asia, was first detected in North America in 2002 and has since killed tens of millions of ash trees and continues to spread, causing considerable economic and ecological damage. As a result, many private property owners are left with dead or dying ash trees. To address this, South Nation Conservation (SNC) has once again partnered with the City of Ottawa to help curb the spread of the invasive EAB across Canada’s capital.

First launched in 2018, the Ash Tree Replacement Program has approved over $575,227 in cost-share grants to property owners to help remove and replace 1,846 infected ash trees with locally sourced native species. Eligible applicants agree to use a forestry professional to confirm and remove infected ash trees and to replace them with suitable native trees.

Funding is still available for 2021 and interested applicants are encouraged to visit our program website at nation.on.ca/eab or to contact SNC for eligibility details.