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This is Volume 1, Issue 7 (05/04/2009) of the ALB Newsletter, your link to the latest information about the Asian longhorned beetle, brought to you by the Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach Project (MIPOP).
Get this news as it happens with the ALB Twitter feed
Recent News
- As of April 18th, more than 20,000 trees have been removed from the Worcester area. This includes over 8,000 infested trees and more than 12,000 high-risk trees (trees in the vicinity of infested trees, removed in order to ensure that the ALB population is controlled).
- The tree replantings have kicked off in the Worcester area. NECN has video coverage. Read more from the Worcester Telegram & Gazette.
- Walmart has donated $100K for Worcester tree replantings, plus an additional $50K in match money, to be given as five $10K grants if other companies donate to the cause.
- Tree removals took place last week in Worcester's Dodge Park, just south of the original three phases of removals A map is available here.
- Shrewsbury is in the final stages of its storm debris cleanup. Residents are reminded to hire only crews that provide proof of having completed the ALB compliance training.
- Worcester high school students organized a road race, family fun day, and other events, all to raise money for tree replantings. Read more here and here.
- The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources put out a press release urging citizens to check their trees for signs of ALB damage. Many trees are not fully leafed out yet, so there is still time to check!
Other News:
- The Massachusetts Land Conservation Conference, held in Worcester this past March, featured a field trip to see the results of ALB damage. The Worcester Telegram & Gazette has news coverage and more photos are in our ALB photo gallery
- If you missed the ALB talk hosted by the Urban Natural Resources Institute, you can now watch the video here
- Read about what Rhode Island is doing to prevent the invasion of the Asian longhorned beetle in this article from the Providence Journal
- The US Forest Service asked maple syrup producers to check their trees for ALB.
Legislation and Regulatory Issues:
- The USDA has fined two Rhode Island companies for moving wood from the Worcester Asian longhorned beetle quarantine area to Rhode Island.
- An updated list of companies that have completed ALB compliance training is available here.
- The Massachusetts House of Representatives has amended the 2010 state budget to include funding for a study by the Department of Conservation and Recreation about the impact of the Asian longhorned beetle tree removals on Worcester.
Upcoming Events and Volunteer Opportunities:
- Giving a talk or manning a booth about Asian longhorned beetle? We can help you get ID cards, pest alerts, etc. Email jennifer.forman-orth AT state.ma.us or call 617-626-1735 for details. Inquiries for events outside of Massachusetts will get forwarded to the appropriate state.
- The Worcester Tree Initiative is holding a tree planting event on May 9 at Kendrick Field in Worcester.
- Jenn Forman Orth of the Mass. Dept. of Agricultural Resources will be speaking to students at Bristol County Agricultural High School about ALB on May 12.
- The town of Westminster is holding an Asian longhorned beetle informational forum May 14th.
- Worcester is seeking volunteer groups to help with the ALB tree replantings. For more information, email jennifer.forman-orth AT state.ma.us, or call 1-866-702-9938.
- The Greater Worcester Land Trust is still looking for volunteers to assist with its ALB surveys. Spring surveys have just started up again - call 508-795-3838 or email anne@gwlt.org for details. No experience is required - you will be trained on site.
Regulated Area
General Information
If you have ALB-related links or other information that you would like to share, email pestalert@massnrc.org.
Get this news as it happens with the ALB Twitter feed
You are receiving this message because you signed up to receive the ALB Newsletter from the Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach Project (MIPOP). Visit our website for more information (http://www.massnrc.org/pests), or to make changes to your pest alerts subscription (http://massnrc.org/pests/signup.aspx).
DISCLAIMER: The listing of hyperlinks in this newsletter does not constitute endorsement of the linked websites, or the information, products or services contained therein. MIPOP makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of any of these links.
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