Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) poses a uniquely devastating threat to Maine’s ecology, economy, and cultural history. Three native species of ash, all of which are key ecological and economic keystones, are being destroyed by the invasive pest which has been introduced in North American temperate forests. Climate change has aided the insect’s broadening range, while also adding to other stresses these trees and our forests face. International governments have been observing, studying, and responding to the EAB crisis for over a decade. As the borer advances east from Michigan, we have learned from federal, state, and tribal officials and experts what to expect, how we can prepare, and actions we can take to make our forests and communities more resilient. Through this partnership, this project will help develop a response to the EAB crisis as it unfolds across Maine, and will also contribute to the broader continental response by indigenous and settler governments and communities.
The Franxinus or Ash genus is unique in several ways. It is among the most abundant trees in Maine forests. Two species, F. pennsylvanica and F. americana, are also prolific street and landscape trees in developed areas. The third species, F. nigra, is a species central to the origins and culture of indigenous nations, communities, and people that continue to thrive and use Brown Ash for medicine, ceremony, artwork, and forest products throughout the entire region affected by EAB. These three attributes of Ash convey the magnitude of what is at stake when an entire genus of trees is potentially wiped from diverse landscapes which depend on it.
At Gilsland Farm Audubon Center
Maine Audubon’s Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth has a substantial population of Ash trees and as such, provides an excellent place to study the spread of EAB, test various methods to protect Ash trees, and provide a source of seeds to help preserve genetic diversity. We are currently involved in three different projects: biocontrol, insecticide injection, and seed collection. Read more about these projects here>
Coming soon: Interpretive signage
For students in K-2:
Contact Maine Audubon Community-Based Education Program Manager Jane Affleck Fitz for information
For students in Grades 6-8:
A curriculum guide is available in the Gulf of Maine Research Institute’s Learning Resource Hub, titled
Unit: Protecting Ash – A Preservation Focused Inventory Project .
• This video is part of that learning resource.
Maine Forest Service entomologist Allison Kanoti introduces us to the importance of Fraxinus (all three species) to forests, developed landscapes, and the economy. Allison also covers the history of EAB presence and impacts in Maine to date, the state response, and how we all can get involved to help.
Tony D’Amato is a regionally esteemed forest ecologist who shares the natural history of Fraxinus and presents for us the innumerable benefits of having Ash in our forests and in our neighborhoods.
A panel of Wabanaki and non-Wabanaki researchers at the Ash Protection Collaboration Across Waponahkik lab shares and discusses the benefits of a blended, multicultural approach to protecting our ash, as well as how people can get involved to support this work.
Theresa Secord is a traditional Penobscot basket maker and the founding director of the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance (MIBA). In 2025, she was honored with a $100,000 Ruth Arts Fellowship, a United States Artist Fellowship and a Cultural Capital Fellow (First Peoples Fund). Theresa lives and works in Maine teaching apprentices to ensure the basketry tradition continues. She offers a presentation on the cultural and community implications of conserving Brown Ash, and shares her craft and connections related to the tree at the center of Wabanaki origins.
• Ash Protection Collaboration Across Waponahkik
The Ash Protection Collaboration Across Waponahkik (APCAW) is a group of Indigenous and non-indigenous researchers, Tribal members, and forest caretakers working together to bring more awareness of the cultural and ecological significance of brown ash.
• From the US Dept of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service:
Emerald Ash Borer (web page)
Questions and Answers: Biological Control for Emerald Ash Borer (fact sheet / PDF)
• From the Maine Forest Service:
Invasive Threats (web page)
Signs and Symptoms of Emerald Ash Borer Infestation (web page)
Ten Things to Know About Emerald Ash Borer in Maine (Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Bulletin, May 22, 2025
• More on Basket making
In Maine, the Art of Basketry Hangs On By a Thread (A film by Atlas Obscura, sponsored by Visit Maine):
“Step into the world of Jeremy Frey, a distinguished master of Wabanaki Basketry and a proud guardian of his Passamaquoddy heritage in the captivating state of Maine. With a lineage that traces back seven generations and beyond, he continues a timeless tradition deeply rooted in the local landscape. We take an intimate glimpse into Jeremy’s creative process, as he transforms ash wood harvested from the nearby forests into stunning works of art. From the intricacies of his designs to the finesse of his weaving, each basket is a testament to his resilience and commitment to preserving this traditional art form.”
Watch the 5-minute film on YouTube here >
