Wednesday, March 4, 2026 from 6 to 7pm
Moore Community Center Auditorium, Ellsworth, ME
Pests and Disease: The Cost of Doing Nothing
Panel participants are still in the works!
This panel will begin with an explanation of the nature of the various issues relating to tree species and then the methods necessary to address those problems plus the cost. Investigating different ways a proactive approach is beneficial, such as parasitoids, pruning, harvesting, and reporting are among the preemptive methods that we hope to cover. Ash, hemlock, beech, elm, and their associated threats (emerald ash borer, hemlock woolly adelgid, beech leaf disease, elm bark beetle) are Maine specific topics that are suitable for this discussion.
This “cost of doing nothing” idea will focus on the consequences that occur after the pests and diseases go untreated. Examples would include the cost to cities, residents, and the state to remove and replace dead/infected trees, and, if not removed, the risk when dead trees are left standing (forest fires, road hazards, property hazards). Maine pests like brown-tail moth, spongy moth, and spruce budworm are also suitable for discussion as they relate to tree and forest health. The cost/benefit equation of the panel will be a central theme, underlining why it makes more sense to take care of trees than to let disease run rampant.
We hope to see you at this important panel discussion.
