Article: EAB Update in the Local Paper

DeWitte, Diane K. 2011. "A Destructive Pest: An Update on the Emerald Ash Borer." The Mankato Free Press. November 30.


Last month, as I worked for complete my prospectus for this class, I found an article in the local paper, The Mankato Free Press. Written by a U of M Extension educator, Diane K. DeWitte, the article provides the area with an update on what the ash borer is, what threat it presents, and what can be done to prevent it from moving. She mentions the reason for the update: the upcoming 10 year anniversary of EAB's discovery in Michigan in 2002.
She provides a timeline of EAB in Minnesota, from its discovery in Ramsey County in 2009, then Hennepin County and Houston County, and two years later another in Ramsey and more in Houston and the city of Winona.


To protect homeowner trees, DeWitte mentions the usual scouting for "D" shaped holes and woodpecker activity. She also states that insecticide should not be applied if the tree is "out of the likely range of emerald ash borer," and that "unnecessary insecticide application is a waste of money." Ashes are only at risk, she says, if EAB is found within a 10-15 mile radius. Probably due to limited word count for the article, she provides an excellent short synopsis of the EAB life cycle. 


This article was easy to understand for anyone interested in trees. It appeared on the front page of the Home and Garden section with three large, color images. The only downside is that it has no local angle, no opportunity for readers in Mankato to connect in a local way with the author.


I want to follow up with these three things mentioned at the end of the article:

1. There are three wasps being studied by the department of agriculture. What are they?
2. There are new requirements for heat-treating wooden shipping pallets. What are those requirements?
3. The Minnesota Tree Care Advisors will put out a communication plan in 2012. What will it be and who are those advisors?

Advice

I received some advice from my professor last semester. The time ticked toward completion dates of several assignments. I found it hard to maintain the deadlines since we did not meet each week to discuss what had to be completed. The asynchronous class works well for some, but I found it wasn't for me.  I had multiple projects due at different times and I taught a Composition class of 24 smart students who sometimes also missed due dates. 


The professor gave me some suggestions for next semester. She mentioned that few students finish on time. While I want to finish at the end of May, I want to complete a solid work. If that means taking more time, well, I might have to.


But, as the professor mentioned, if I create a schedule, stick to it, expect two weeks for advisor revisions, and clear big changes before I make them, I can complete this on time.

Presentation of Research

Will a tree that currently lines thousands of boulevards in the United States become extinct in the near future? Minnesota’s green ash (fraxinus Pennslyvanica), white ash, (fraxinus americana), and the black ash (fraxinus nigra) face a dire future because of an invasive species new to the United States (O’Brian and Suszkiw 2011, 18; Wang et al. 2011, 1). The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) Fairmaire (EAB), a green beetle about the size of a nickel, has yet to be stopped since its uninvited entrance on shipping material in Detroit, Michigan in 2002 (O’Brien and Suszkiw 2011, 18-19; Dunbar 2011).

While all states have much to lose to the spread of EAB, Maine and Minnesota have the largest population of ash trees within their respective borders (MNDNR 2007). To slow the spread of the pest, many Minnesotan government agencies joined together to create an EAB task force (USDA 2008; MNDNR 2007). By the time EAB made it across the Mississippi river and into Minnesota (Schuldt 2010), several other states struggled to deal with the situation. Although all eastern and midwestern states will lose trees and money in this battle (Kovacs et al. 2010, 575; H.R. 3901), some suggest that Minnesotans maintain a stronger emotional connection with their landscape, especially their trees (Atkins 2007, 1-9). As a result, they may be more willing to engage with government agencies to protect the larger ash canopy in the state.

But many questions remain. My main question is this: How can agencies and communities effectively communicate about environmental risks? And to what extent are communities involved in the engagement process? Also, what pitfalls prevent agencies from reaching or engaging with their audiences?  To better understand the public level of environmental stewardship and awareness of invasive species (and resulting pesticide treatments), I am studying rural agency-community relationships in environments susceptible to invasive species. In doing so, I hope to find information applicable to other states as they work to effectively engage community participation in invasive species quarantine and eradication. 

Please view the video below to get a glimpse into some of my research on this subject.

Government Doc: Mankato City Code

Yesterday and I was clambering to figure out how to detail my research for the rest of the class, I looked up the Mankato's city code. I wanted to answer the "So what?" question that many researchers must deal with in order for their findings to have any implication to society outside of their discourse communities. 


Also, I've seen elm trees in Mankato yards flagged with Dutch Elm Disease (that is, several leaves turned yellow, which indicates that the disease will soon kill the tree—arborists call this "flagging"). I even contacted a MSU maintain manager when I saw an elm flagging. This great tree was flagging, and its canopy stretched to shade the parking lot. 


The MSU staff decided to wait instead of taking up my offer to cut the branch and trace the disease. The tree lingered for much longer than I thought it would. For a while I even doubted it was emerald ash borer (EAB). But the next year, the disease took the tree and they cut the whole thing down.


So I figured Mankato didn't have strict laws like Minneapolis and St. Paul does regarding diseased or dangerous trees. After all, Dutch Elm is rampant in this area (especially on the windbrakes and in the ravines). I was wrong! Here's a segment of Mankato City Code 9.73:

Section 9.737, Mankato City Code. Taken from <http://www.mankato-mn.gov/CityCode/Section-9.73.aspx>

When a homeowner's tree first gets Dutch Elm Disease, they have until April 1st of the next year to remove it. But that assumes the tree won't continue to decline, which happens most often (unless there are dry conditions). If the tree loses more than 30 percent of its canopy, the tree needs to be removed in 20 days. 


If the homeowner does not meet this requirement, the forester can "abate the nuisance" (cut it down) and charge the homeowner for it. Depending on the size of the tree, it could cost $1,000 or more (for the biggest trees). Rarely does a Mankato tree removal go for more than this price, even with cranes involved.


So, what are the implications for the ash trees of Mankato? I'm sure when the Emerald Ash Borer hit the city the City Council will update the code here. All the trees they talk about are elm and oaks. So it makes sense they would add ash trees to the rules. 


The other big question is whether or not this code is enforced. Does the forester mark trees on people's property? Maybe he does, but considering the size of the town and the amount of trees with Dutch Elm Disease, I don't imagine he gets involved unless a homeowner is negligent and a neighbor is concerned.


Why didn't I look at this sooner? It would have given my research more meaning, and it might even suggest that the city code be adapted in the future to provide for a possible infestation of EAB. Ah well, more to add into the prospectus during winter break.

Graphic: Mankato's Ashes

This graphic is from the City of Mankato. It marks a boulevard ash tree with a green line. All the green lines are placed on a map of Mankato's streets and buildings. In total there are about 2,400 green lines on this map. Note that this does not account for all the trees in the city—just the boulevard ash trees, which the city has planted. The amount of ashes planted on private property and public parks is certain to be 5 or 10 times the amount on the boulevards.  

Of course, the map is hard to read. The lines create a green tint to the map from a distance. Close up, it is hard to tell where the trees are, especially when the street runs parallel to the direction of the line markers. 


The density of monoculture planting is evident in a closeup of Balcerzak, seen below.

That's a lot of ash trees! The lines make this seem more like a computer score card than an information graphic though. Another representation, made from the same source of information, from the Mankato Free Press looks much better because it maintains a stronger figure-ground contrast and it "tames the grid" as Edward R. Tufte would say.

Book: History of Media and the Environment, pre 1960

Neuzil, Mark, and William Kovarkik. 1996. Mass Media & Environmental Conflict: America’s Green Crusades. Sage Publications, Inc: Thousand Oaks, California.

I found Neuzil’s book in the MSU library yesterday, along with another one which I’ll write about later. I didn’t realize they were both written by the same guy until I had brought them home. The author must be a journalism professor who works in green media.

Books on the topics of environment and mass media will help my research because they will provide background on how the public has and does receive messages. This book also has a chapter about trees called “The Media and Social Change: I. Mother of the Forest.” I’ll have to wait to read that until winter break. Right now I have deadlines for this prospectus looming (tomorrow night) and many papers to grade.

In the introduction to his book, Neuzil says it is about “environmental conflict and the mass media in American history before the 1960s” (xi). I appreciate this because there is much written about the post-‘60s environmental movement. He mentions the explosion of interest in the environment at that time was a result of several leading factors built up over time (from the 1850s to the 1960s). But several current statistics he states could benefit my research as well.

Neuzil mentions that by 1988, 7 million people were involved in an organization benefiting the environment (ix) and cites Udall, 1988. I could find out the population of the US at that time and create a percentage of the population involved. After that, I could find a current estimate and generate a percentage. I could then create a chart or graph to represent the difference from 20 years. Such a graph could help me estimate the percentage of the population who would be willing to pay for remediation for their trees in the Mankato area.

Later in the intro, Neuzil describes a theory of social control by Denis McQuail. The theory provides three ways to view media. One is the media as supporting important community values because of audience pressure. A more neutral way is that the media “supports the status quo” because of converging business and social pressure. A stronger view is that the media are a tool used to suppress the masses. However, Neuzil does mention that many scholars don’t believe the media moves any social change (xii). Then he gets into social theory and why people value certain things as opposed to others.

I’m excited to read more in this work.

Article: A New Exotic Pest

Hacket, Robert A.,  Eduard Jendek, Houping Liu, Kenneth R. Marchant, Toby R. Petrice, Therese M. Poland, and Hui Ye. 2002. "The emerald ash borer: a new exotic forest pest in North America." Newsletter. Michigan Entomology Society: (47) 3&4. September.


This newsletter brought some bad news to the United States. The authors, collaborators from America, Canada, Slovakia, and China, worked together to identify a new insect found in Michigan in June of 2002. When researchers observed some ash trees were declining, they noticed the "D"-shaped holes in the bark and the cambium-killing larvae tunnels. 


Quickly identifying the beetle was not possible. There are more than 2,000 species in the Agrilus family, so it wasn't until July 9th, when the specimens where shipped to Eduard Jendek, a specialist in Asian Agrilus, that the bug was positively identified at Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (2). Shortly after, the Michigan Department of Agriculture started enforcing quarantines in infested counties. Meanwhile, Canadian authorities had found a similar beetle, it wasn't until August 7th that it too was confirmed as the same insect (2). At this point, researchers estimated the insect had been established for five years (4)!!!


This article provided great insight on the process of determining a new species in an environment. When an animal breaks through to a new boundary or region, it can easily be identified. Not so with small insects who come from wide families and get carried on shipping containers. 


When the insect was identified, the researches took votes on what to call it. They wanted to make sure the media didn't name the insect (1). Oregon Department of Agriculture's Richard Wescott and Natalia Vandenburg of the USDA suggested the name Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). Votes were tallied and a new acronym was born (1). 


The taxonomy section mentioned that the beetle goes by other names as well.  

Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (1888; type China) has several synonyms, including A. marcopoli Obenberger (1930; type China), A. marcopoli ulmi Kurosawa (1956; type Japan), and A. feretrius Obenberger (1936; type Taiwan) (Jendek 1994).  EAB is referred to as A. marcopoli in much of the Chinese literature and as A. marcopoli ulmi in Japan.  Based on the morphology of the scutellum, deep pronotal medial sulcus, and robust body, A. planipennis appears most closely related to the Asian species A. auristermum Obenberger, A. cyaneoniger Saunders, and A. lubopetri Jendek (2).

I didn't know this was allowed in the world of entomology—it certainly makes things confusing. But I can understand why it would be very difficult to streamline names across cultures, especially when one culture has completely adapted a name. I wonder then, do other countries refer to EAB by these other names still? Or has the new concern in the West changed the way people refer to it? I looked at Eduard Jendek's website later and found nearly 100 varieties of insects named after him.


EAB, though new, is not alone as an foreign Agrilus. The authors list six other exotic members of the Agrilus family established in the United States (4).


The native habitat is described as Northeastern China, Far Eastern Russia, and Taiwan. The authors say only two Asian research articles were found on the bug, one from 1986, one from 1992 (2). Hacket, et al. provide a synopsis of these studies and describe other upcoming studies from Michigan (2). Significant early timetables provide a step-by-step retelling of the early infestation and where the beetles in the same family had been found at points of entry, although it was implied the ships were from China and Japan, the authors show it needed more study (4).


To conclude, the authors warn readers with a level-headed use of emotional language. Resources are said to be "at risk," because the wherever the insect moved, it "successfully attacked." The result could be "considerable economic and environmental damage." Therefore, "A vigorous research and management program along with harmonized quarantine actions are urgently needed to contain this new exotic tree pest" (5). 

Article: Insect Invasions and Management

Brockerhoff, Eckehard G., Andrew M. Liebhold, and Herve Jactel. 2006. "The ecology of forest insect invasions and advances in their management." Canadian Journal of Forestry Research. Vol. 36. 2006. 263-268.


The authors wrote this paper to "enhance the sharing of information" between scientists studying invasive species management (Brockerhoff 2006, 263). It was originally presented at the International Union of Forest Research Organizations Conference on Forest Diversity and Resistance to Native and Exotic Pest Insects in New Zealand. 


I found this paper to be a good culmination of four specific areas of research. The theme of management relates to my research because management demonstrates the need for agencies to present consistent information internally and to the public. Management cannot progress on this issue without consistent information.


The authors, from New Zealand, Morgantown, WV, and France, respectively, share information about four subjects relevant to invasive species management

1. The role of global trade; 
2. biogeographical effects; 
3. biodiversity; 
4. and advances in "detection, monitoring, and management of invasive species and native pests" (264).

Although this report mentions several different insects, the authors describe the emerald ash borer along with the Asian long horned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis, the great spruce bark beetle, Dendroctonus micans, and the red turpentine beetle, Dendroctonus valens, as cases receiving "much attention because they represent a significant threat to the health of forests and urban trees" (264). They cite an early study done by Haack et al. in 2002, which I will read soon. The rest of the report maintains a macro-view to all the problems of invasive species.


The research done on the role of global trade in invasive species movement shows a need for government action. Studies prove a relationship between "interception frequency and probability of establishment" (264). It also shows a need for more research from the agencies responsible for inspecting shipping containers (264).


Biogeography is the study of plant distribution, such as how forests move over time, and where nurseries develop new plant stocks. Phylogeny deals with the development and diversification of different animals or insects. These two areas of study interweave when researching pests in forests. Research has found that invasive bugs spread for these three reasons:

1. The plants lack a natural defense;
2. few or no natural enemies exist;
3. few or no natural competitors exist (265).

However, the factors leading to the phylogenic introduction of the invasive species can be complex and closely related to the movement of plant species by human benefactors. The authors note, "a reliance on exotic trees in forestry increases the need to exclude pest introductions" (265). 

I imagine this can be a revolving problem. Invasive species prey on native trees and kill them, so new species are introduced, but with them come other invasive species. I'll bet large nurseries have to tackle this problem every year.

Although I have always heard that diversified forests (and urban forests) are less susceptible to invasive species, the authors show that only some research finds this to be true. In other research (from Jactel et al. 2005), some "mixed forests have greater levels of attack than forests with less tree species richness" (265). However, they don't offer too many citations for this information. They agree that many cases exist showing the opposite. In the end, they call for more research (266).

DNA testing and pheromone traps provide two new methods for detecting invasive species. The DNA testing showed 100 percent accuracy in tests (Ball and Armstrong 2006)! Inspectors can sample any part of insect or larvae to find a match and identify a pest. However, a full database needs establishing first. This could be a "standardized tool for biosecurity managers around the world" (266). Pheromone traps prove successful, but studies have shown need for caution when interpreting the data because the number caught does not always relate to the population quantity in the area (Bentz 2006). Other control studies include the simple introduction of a native predator or fungus and confusing the pests by spraying sex pheromones (266).

The authors do note that an "eradication campaign" was "successful" in com patting two pests in New Zealand. The campaign incorporated trapping, spraying a fungus, and releasing sterilized males (267). I wonder what they mean by successful though. Is it a manageable amount of pests or did they eradicate them?

The authors conclude by noting these three things:

1. Invasions will only increase with increased trade;
2. Increased communication will be needed between agencies and scientists; 
3. While some programs to decrease established pests can work, the "primary goal" should be a reduction of the pests becoming established in non-native environments (267). In other words, stop them on the ships!

Other Works Cited

Ball and Armstrong. 2006. "A universal DNA-based identification system for insect pests: a test case with the Lymantriidae (Lepidoptera). Canadian Journal of Forestry Research.

Bentz. 2006. "Mountain Pine Beetle population sampling: inferences from Lindgren pheromone traps and tree emergence cages." Canadian Journal of Forestry Research.

Other Work to Explore

Hacket et al. "The emerald ash borer: a new exotic forest pest in North America. Newsletter. Michigan Entomology Society (47)

Article: Personal and Professional Ethics

Seow, Ting Lee. 2011. "Conceptualizing ethical knowledge and knowledge transfer in public relations." Public Relations Review, Volume 37, Issue 1, March Pages 96-98, ISSN 0363-8111, 10.1016/j.pubrev.2010.11.003.

Lee Seow Ting of the University of Singapore conducted an email survey based on a Likert scale to determine how the public relations practitioners feel about the orientation of ethics and the best method teaching ethics. She emailed 1016 people and received 230 responses. She mentions this 34.5% as “acceptable considering the typically low response rates from public relations practitioners in academic survey (Lee 2011, 97).

Public relations practitioners responded in the survey to say that ethical practice is a trainable attribute. They cite case studies as the most successful tool for this training. Other strong methods listed were mentorship programs, workshops and seminars, and meeting with employees who broke ethical guidelines (Lee 2011, 98). Less than 50% of the study found the following methods to be helpful when teaching ethical guides: scholarly publications, email reminders, textbooks, and memos.

Lee summarizes two main findings from the study. The first comes from a majority of responses saying ethics are “a function of individual experiences such as personal values, family upbringing, religious values and personal experiences” (97). A majority believed that personal ethics create the professional ethics. The second comes from the majority of respondents who believed “ethical knowledge [was] a codifiable and communicable body of knowledge that could be transferred and shared in the workplace despite the origins of the knowledge in the individual realm of personal experiences and values” (98).

The author extrapolates that more emphasis should be made to teach ethics in environments such as case studies and meetings. The “active interaction” helps communicate this subject (98). Also, the approach to ethics should be viewed holistically, taking in the background of the employee, since so many felt their personal ethics directed their professional ethics (98).

This article seemed to be making a connection needed for many other studies. The author may have been motivated to connect certain practices to valid research. I say this because the article is so short and the author states, “this finding reinforces the importance of a holistic approach to ethics” (98), and cites an article.

One thing I didn’t understand in this article were mentions of tacit and explicit ethical knowledge (97). The author referred to The Tacit Dimension, a 1966 book authored by M. Polanyi. This seems to refer to a means of describing communication directions (internal, external, personal, public), but I would have to do more research to find out more about it.

The takeaway for my research is that personnel at agencies might base their professional ethics in their personal ethical stances. Therefore, if it was necessary to “water down” the truth in order to get the right public response, an employee might do it if their own ethical development permitted it and they had not been taught proper ethical boundaries in meetings and with case studies.

Government Doc: H.R. 3901

H.R. 3901. Bill from the House of Representatives. "Emerald Ash Borer Municipality Assistance Act of 2007."110th Congress. 1st Session. 18 October 2007.

Article: War

O'Brien, D., & Suszkiw, J. (2011). Waging war on a voracious pest: Efforts to contain the emerald ash borer.Agricultural Research, 59(4), 18-18-21. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.mnsu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/863358319?accountid=12259

Article: Communication Difficulties

Lentz, Tony M. "Communication Difficulties in a Large Federal Agency." American Behavioral Scientist. 1986. 29:303

Article: Property Owner's Relationships With Land

McNeil, Claire. "THIS LAND IS OUR PLACE: PROPERTY OWNERS’ RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE LAND IN THE GREATER PARK ECOSYSTEM OF ST. LAWRENCE ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK." Thesis. McGill University, 1997. Royal Roads University. Royalroads.edu 2009.

Article: Landowner Perceptions

Mackenzie, Bruce F., and Brendon M. H. Larson. 2010. "Participation Under Time Constraints: Landowner Perceptions of Rapid Response to the Emerald Ash Borer." Society & Natural Resources 23, no. 10: 1013-1022. EBSCO MegaFILE, EBSCOhost (accessed November 5, 2011).


This case study provides a look across the border, into Canada. The authors examine the trust in a community-agency relationship between an agency of the Canadian government (CFIA), and the community around a fresh infestations of EAB in Ontario, Canada. The agency provide a rapid response to the pest by cutting down all ash trees within a barrier zone 10km wide and 30km long (seen as the checkered pattern in Figure 1. below). Most of the removed trees resided on private property.

Image from "Particpation Under Time Constraints: Landowner Perceptions of Rapid Response to Emerald Ash Borer," published in Society & Natural Resources, page 1015.

In cases like these, three things prevent participation from communities: The speed at which the government needs to react to prevent the spread (the "rapid response"), the lack of knowledge about the particular bug, and the length of time it takes to plan and create community-oriented participation programming.


The authors write that the government should proceed with the participation of the public as much as possible. They state the following: "Generally speaking, citizens should be direct participants, as equals in face-to-face discussions with decision makers throughout the process and in advance of any actions" (1014). Some may disagree with this claim because they value the response of the agency over the participation of the group. They write the case study to "contribute insights that will reduce the social impact of future rapid response programs" (1014).


The study begins with a review of social articles on trust. This shows how a form of government might better gain the trust of the communities. They can do so by getting people 
to participate (1013). Then the background of EAB is given. 


The authors explain how many citizens thought the government acted too slowly. They formed a coalition and pleaded for the government to cut down trees immediately. But when the government started removing trees, private landowners got ticked (1016). Crews were held up, equipment was damaged, and there was a strong landowner vs. government struggle.


The study consists of interviews with people in the barrier zone. The authors took a snowball sampling of people they found interviewed in the newspapers. They conducted 17 face-to-face interviews lasting one hour each. The interviews were transcribed and recorded, then coded.


In this article the authors cite from government sources, such as the Canadian government website and the USDA; newspapers, such as the London Free Press and Guelph Mercury; science journals, such as Journal of Forestry and Journal of Agricultural Environmental Ethics. I'm glad they did, because I kept thinking I could never cite all technical writing journals for my research. But I kept wondering, would it make sense for me to cite all these different genres in my thesis?


The case study revealed many unhappy homeowners. Some cited a lack of institutional trust (1017), some cited doubts about the science behind the barrier zone (1017), and some citied concerns about the public consultation process (1018). To conclude, the authors provide some quick active response protocols for public engagement.


I'm very happy to have found this article. While it's short length prevents too much context for the problem, the idea of challenging the government's process agency-community communication was done in a scientific way, even though with the researchers providing results from qualitative research.


This is my breakthrough article. I can do something like this!

Article: Conservation Writing

Johnson-Sheehan, Richard and Lawrence Morgan. "Conservation Writing: An Emerging Field in Technical Communication." Technical Communication Quarterly. 18(1) 9-27. 2009.


This article argues for a new category of genre in technical communications. Because of the past writing and the future need, the authors argue that conservation writing should be taught in technical communications departments as a form of technical writing. 


As technology continues to become more advanced, studies on the environment continue to become more detailed and intertwined with other aspects of ecology and global urban life. I can see how the authors expect this form of writing to advance. Indeed, many of us need a concise, simple description of the advanced, detailed environmental problems, such as climate change, because they—or their study methods and implications—are too detailed for us to understand.


The authors lay out their argument through a literary study. They make a quick case in the introduction for how conservation writing shoots the hole surrounding emotional nature writing and ultra-logical science writing. Conservation writing does both, they argue, but never so much as to be extreme or leave out emotional impact. 


They seek to convince the audience through a dense literature review of past conservation writers and new genres which have emerged. The lists are not complete lists, but good examples from different eras.


However, they offer no theory to back their claim of new genres. In fact, I believe Caroline Miller dismissed one of their claimed genres (the environmental impact statement) on the claims that the content was just too diverse, I can't recall the specific article, but I think it was in the early 1990s. 


Also, should we in the technical communications field look to create curricula when the jobs aren't present to support the finished degree? What good is it to engage 200 students in a genre, have them graduate only to find they have to hold a degree in biology in order to get a job with the company (or government agency) that disseminates the genre? The authors make no attempt to discuss these questions, they only suggest we start teaching before technical communications misses the bus.


Here's a breakdown of the article.


Introduction 


The authors show why much of the public has a new, pro-conservation attitude about the environment. They state their three goals:

1. "Offer a history of conservation writing in order to define it as a field of technical communication."
2. "Describe the most common genres and conventions in this emerging field."
3. "Offer strategies for bringing conservation writing into the technical communication classroom and building new curricula around it" (10).

Context 

• History of Conservation Writing. "Conservation writing is an umbrella term for a range of writing about ecology, biology, the outdoors, and environmental policies and ethics" (10). Although conservation writing shares concern for ecology as nature writing does, and shares emphasis on evidence as science writing does, it differs from both in that it is pragmatic and calls the audience to action.
• The authors provide a quote from Luke Wallin's book, Conservation Writing, which mentions audience awareness. 
• History
• Early 1800s: Gilbert White, William Bartram, John James Audubon, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau. While not all the works by these authors can be considered conservation writing, several should be, such as Nature and Selected Essays by Emerson and Walking and Walden by Thoreau; because they argue for a change in the way we act toward the environment.
• Late 1800s: George Perkins Marsh, John Burroughs, and John Muir. These authors expressed "concerns about the environmental destruction caused by rapid expansion into the Western United States and the industrialization of the Eastern United States" (13).
• Early 1900s: Conservation Clubs, President Theodore Roosevelt, and the Antiquities Act. The clubs promoted conservation writing in their pages, President Roosevelt wrote a book promoting conservation, and the Antiquities Act created new conservation genres, "such as natural histories and technical descriptions" (14). Soon colleges created extension services and more conservation writing ensued.
• Mid 1900s: Aldo Leopold and Rachel Carson. These two writers made strong cases for ethical use of land and pest treatments. They both wrote with care for the ecology and a core of knowledge about the environment.
• Current: Federal Conservation Writing and Contemporary Conservation Writing. While the government demands many types of writing today, other authors such as Terry Tempest Williams and John McPhee have continued to open the genre Carson and Leopold made more popular. Even Albert Gore got in on the action.
• Genres of Conservation Writing
• Natural Histories
• Feature Articles and Essays
• Analytical Reports
• Technical Descriptions
• Environmental Impact Statements
• Grants
• Brochures, Handouts, Websites
• Newsletters
• Natural Resource Inventories
• Environmental Management Plans
• ISO 14000 Environmental Management Systems

Teaching Conservation Writing

• The authors outline what they can do to "prepare students for this emerging field" (21).
• Learn about biotechnology and conservation issues.
• Practice writing in the genres.
• Learn conservation laws.
• Create service-learning projects.
• Learn about other writers in conservation and politics.

Conclusion

The authors conclude by mentioning again that the field of conservation writing will only increase. They stress how important it will be for students to connect clear information with a variety of audiences.

Abstract: Canadian Policies on EAB

Marchant, Kenneth R. "Managing the Emerald Ash Borer in Canada."  Abstract. "Emerald Ash Borer Research and Development Meeting; October 23-24, 2007; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania." Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. April 2008. 

Understanding the differences between Canada's handling of the invasive species and the United States position can be difficult. I can recall hearing grumblings from different arborists about the less intensive pest-management plans in Canada. I found an abstract by Kenneth Marchant, about Canada's policies regarding EAB. The abstract says "tree removal at and around infested outliers ... has been discontinued other than for research purposes" (2).

This contrasts strongly with Minnesota's management policy to cut down trees even before the bug is verified in certain areas of St. Paul. They probably mention this because of the advanced state of infestation in Ontario, but I can't imagine it works the same near Sault Ste. Marie.

In relation to communication with the public, Marchant's abstract describes a "slow-the-spread strategy for EAB" as described in a management plan. The strategy involves these two types of quarantines:

1. the federal labeling of a county as infested, or
2. a legal notice to property owners within a 5-km radius of a positive detection. 

It continues, "Both methods of quarantine may be in place in the same area concurrently where it is deemed desirable to slow intra-county spread" (8). I'm not certain just what the owners are required to do (if anything) after given a notice.

Graphic: Quarantined Counties in Canada

In the United States, the Forest Service and the Department of Agriculture share some of the responsibility for developing a plan of attack against invasive species. In Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency dispenses information about invasive species. Their website, provides the Canadian communities with a webpage that seems, to me, a little too full of headings, bold text, and hyperlinks. Many of the resources link to the main EAB information page, which means the website maintains international credibility.

A few things struck me about this map, found on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's website. It displays topography, and strong colors, including blue for rivers—which are often left out of the US maps. The map reads in both English and French, showing great audience awareness for those in Québec (generally French speaking) and Ontario. 

However, the map shows four different colors of regulation. The viewer remains unaware of the color's significance. At a quick glance, it seems the colors indicate different levels of regulation. The legend should provide meaning, but instead mentions "Areas regulated by ministerial order," which still doesn't explain the different colors.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency Mapping and GIS Service. Inspection.gc.ca. Aug. 2011.

Graphic: Ash Tree Quantity in Great Lakes States

This graphic by Kevin Hall displays the quantity of ash by county across the northeastern and north central United States. With a quick glance, the readers establish a high concentration of ash in Minnesota, New York, and Maine. 

While the graphic makes it appear Minnesota has the highest concentration, this is only because of the larger counties (St. Louis County is one of the largest in the nation). Maine has the largest concentration of ash trees in the United States.

The small grey lines show the general quarantine of the Twin Cities, which is now a general infestestion. 

 Hall, Kevin G. Star Tribune. 2 June 2009

Graphic: MN Quarantine Map

http://www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/~/media/Images/plants/eab/eabquarantinemap.ashx

Article: Government's Plan

USDA–APHIS. 2008. New Pest Response Guidelines for the Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis (Fairmaire) USDA–APHIS–PPQ–Emergency and Domestic Programs–Emergency Planning, Riverdale, Maryland. 

This government document is slightly old, but outlines an intrepid response for communities who have found EAB in their borders. This plan covers several areas of information, as many government documents tend to do. However, it maintains a basic English style, and communicates effectively.

It provides information on the following areas:

• Pest information
• Identification
• Response Procedures
• Survey Procedures
• Regulatory Procedures
• Management Procedures
• Environmental Compliance
• Public Outreach

Since I was interested in the communication aspect of it, I paid special attention to the section on public outreach. The document states that it "is never too early to begin the education and outreach process." Also, they show the chain of command, directing others to report to the EAB's Legislative and Public Affairs specialist for materials. It appears the USDA is attempting to have everyone on the same page by issuing public-related documents through the LPA. They also cover the following communications topics:

• General Outreach Objectives  (consistent message by creating a core communication group with people from several different areas of government)
• General Outreach Activities and Initiatives  (maintain websites, hotlines, media reps, civil reps)
• Outreach Material (available through the EAB Legislative and Public Affairs specialist)

Article: Previous Research on the Pest

Wang, Xiao-Yi, Zhong-Qi Yang, Juli R. Gould, Yi-Nan Zhang, Gui-Jun Liu, and EnShan Liu. “The Biology and Ecology of the Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis, in China.” Journal of Insect Science 10.128 (2010): 1-23. Web. 10 Mar. 2011 

In the similar environment on the other side of the world, scientists in China recognized a potential problem in the 1960s. In Northeastern China, many non-native ash trees (from the United States) were planted. The trees were similar to other ashes in Asia, and were planted widely in residential areas. Soon after, however, outbreaks of EAB followed. Little was known about the insect because most of its life cycle was hidden under the tree’s bark. EAB remained “only sometimes an important pest in certain areas in China,” and didn’t pose a large-scale threat (Wang 2).

The hidden life cycle of the EAB was studied by Chinese entomologists Xiao-Yi Wang, Zhong-Qi Yang, Juli R. Gould, Yi-Nan Zhang, Gui-Jun Liu, and EnShan Liu in Journal of Insect Science article, “The Biology and Ecology of the Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis, in China.” They conducted a study on the velvet ash in Guangang Forest Park, Dagang District, Tianjin Municipality, China, where “most forests are monoculture ash plantings” (2).

They found that the beginning of the problem was the most difficult to detect.

There were rarely any clear symptoms on the surface of the bark during the initial infestation … It was more difficult to detect an early stage of infestation for those trees with rough or thick bark (6).

But once EAB has entered a tree, the tree’s life span is cut short. To study these life cycles, Wang al. et. cut down infected trees and studied them in two environments, the laboratory (where each pair of EAB were caged with a log) and in the outdoor environment. They cut the logs and sealed the ends with wax (so the bugs had to enter through the bark). 

Wang al. et. report that EAB deposit eggs under the bark and upon hatching from the egg, the larvae burrow deeper into the bark and into the cambium, then into the xylem for hibernation around the beginning or middle of September. From June to April they are in larval stage, around 300 days. They become pupae stage and eat through the cambium for 20 days to emerge in May (in China). After a week, they mate, lay eggs and die (Wang 3-18).

Narrative: Finding the Beast

When I made it to the shop on the day in early April 2009, my fellow coworkers were shouting out the news.

“It is here! The bug has landed and it is going to change everything!”

I rushed to tell them I had seen the news the night before, when the Minnesota Department of Agriculture confirmed Emerald Ash Borer’s presence in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. One of our own co-workers at Rainbow Treecare, a recently hired lanky sales arborist, found the infestation. On the news he stood near a 40-foot green ash, grinning wildly, telling the reporter how he looked closer at the boulevard trees after he responded to a homeowner’s request to examine a backyard ash. 

The news cut to the confirmation by the Department of Agriculture’s spokesperson, a tall blond-haired man who couldn’t have been over 35 years old; he spoke soberly, but with a quickened pace, as if the bugs were spreading further even as he spoke.

Our crew of arborists we drove to ground zero after a short meeting at the shop. The infestation was right off University Avenue in St. Paul, where several ash trees were partially debarked at eye level. It was early spring and silver maples had yet to break their buds. From the thin-tipped branches and deep gouges in the surface of exposed wood, we could tell the trees were toast.

The dime-sized bug currently threatens more than just the street in St. Paul. An army of them will soon be attacking Minnesota’s urban and wild forests. The Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) Fairmaire (EAB), a flying insect with emerald-colored wings from northern China, was first found in the United States in 2002.

In the short time of nine years, the EAB has posed a threat to much of northeastern North America. To slow the progression of the but, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) already imposed a quarantine on ash wood from the following states: Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, New York, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Kentucky (emeraldashborer.info).

EAB feeds on ash trees, specifically green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica). Because Minnesota is home to more ash trees than any other state in the US (besides Maine), the potential loss of forest canopy has both environmental organizations and forestry companies concerned. Many companies have come forward with suggestions to save the urban canopies in Minnesota since infestation was found in 2009 (in two separate places—St. Paul and a small town right near the Mississippi River). But the response to chemical injections and sprays is less favored than some possible biological alternatives suggested by the DOA and other environmental organizations.

Article: Information Distributing Software

Medjahed, Brahim, and William Grosky. "Sentinel: Intelligent Information Sharing for Controlling the Emerald Ash Borer Threat."


I found an article from Michigan researchers that deals with the distribution of information. These researchers answer questions relating to how information is shared between all the communities that need to know. They create two extensive charts illustrating the flow of information and the groups concerned with the information. The article is short, but valuable for me. I wonder if the government decided to incorporate this suggestion. The software the authors are promoting is called "Sentinel." It's weird to have authors promoting their software in a journal, but I guess there isn't anything else similar to it.

Webpage: Emerald Ash Borer's Homepage

Here's an image from the main information portal about this bug. Emeraldashborer.info maintains a strong collaborated mass of information, providing up-to-date maps, links, and details about the infestations and the movement of this little guy. If it could create a PR website for itself, this would be it. Many of the state and federal websites link to it. If you conduct a Google search for "EAB" this will always be the first hit.


The site was created at ground zero for the little beetle, Michigan. The large Michigan State University joined forces with the USDA Forest Service, Purdue University, and Ohio State University to populate the site with the best and most recent information possible. The site is funded by the Forest Service and "administered through MSU," although I'm not sure what that means. I think they're telling readers that MSU hosts the servers and posts the information. 

My big question research question is this: Is this research needed? If the DNR already does usability test through a professional PR company, what am I going to find that changes the way things are done? Ah well, until a better idea comes through, I better keep on the issue. 

emeraldashborer.info