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Emerald ash borer found in Nova Scotia

The CFIA said the new finding is a first for Nova Scotia, which is outside of the current areas regulated for emerald ash borer in Canada. The emerald ash borer was also detected in New Brunswick earlier this year.

The CFIA said it is conducting additional survey work with its partners to determine whether the pest has become established in the area, and if so, the extent of the spread.

The movement of all ash material such as logs, branches, and woodchips, and all species of firewood from the affected site, is restricted, effective immediately, the CFIA stated in a release. The property owners in the affected area have been notified of these restrictions.

Although the emerald ash borer poses no threat to human health, it is highly destructive to ash trees.
It has already killed millions of ash trees in regulated areas in Canada and the United States, and poses a major economic and environmental threat to urban and forested areas of North America.

Moving untreated firewood is a common way for invasive insects and diseases to spread.

The emerald ash borer is native to China and eastern Asia. Its presence in Canada was first confirmed in 2002. Prior to this new detection, the emerald ash borer was known to be present only in certain areas of New Brunswick, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. 

The CFIA said it continues to work with federal, provincial, municipal and First Nations partners and organizations to slow the spread of this pest.