MAINE—The Eastern Region’s most recent FS Talks highlighted a unique collaborative effort to save and effectively manage brown ash (or black ash) from the destructive emerald ash borer.

While established populations of emerald ash borer have been present in the Midwest for a couple of decades, the insect only reached the state of Maine in recent years and is not widespread.

In this FS Talks, John Daigle, social scientist and professor of Forest Recreation Management at the University of Maine, along with doctoral students Tyler Everett and Emily Francis, discussed the emerald ash borer and its impact on trees and Wabanaki tribes across New England. The beetle’s infestation in Maine is building and starting to spread, but to date, indigenous communities essentially remain ash borer free. That makes this research by scientists, foresters and tribal communities particularly timely and important.

Professor Daigle, also a member of the Penobscot Indian Nation, began by explaining the unique attributes of brown ash, which grows in pockets across Maine. The brown ash doesn’t get a lot of attention. As it’s not typically sought after by the timber industry, there has not been a lot of research on it. Daigle explained the focus of his team’s work not only includes the ash borer threat but, more importantly, the tree’s cultural and ecological significance.

Deeply rooted in tribal culture, the brown ash tree is not only the principal building material for baskets produced by tribal artisans, it’s also referenced in the Wabanaki creation story. This association of brown ash both to basketry and the creation story of the people clearly show that the species is a part of the cultural identity of all the Indigenous peoples of the region.

The collaborative effort includes many partners. Besides the four Wabanaki tribes, there is also Maine Indian Basket Makers Alliance and Brown Ash Task Force, as well as a growing number of private landowners. One of the primary goals of the Ash Protection Collaboration Across the Wabanaki is to partner with the tribal nation, engage them through tribal-led research, community meetings and ash seed collection efforts.

With strong personal ties to cultural basketry, graduate student Tyler Everett was inspired to focus his doctoral work on the threat of the ash borer on brown ash and what could be done to save it. He developed an inventory protocol that allows tribal resource managers to use compiled data to determine which direction they can take for management and response to emerald ash borer. This protocol was first demonstrated in 2019; since then, many have adopted it, and the Passamaquoddy Forestry Department has completed inventory of ash stands on their tribal lands.   

Another partner is the Wabanaki Youth and Science program, who will be heavily involved inventorying this tribal-led research on tribal lands. Communities on these lands will provide critical input on management options. Everett will use the feedback to develop and test ash management plans off tribal lands, that eventually the tribes can adopt.

The team is also working with the tribes on another important aspect for perpetuating brown ash, seed collection. Doctoral candidate and social scientist Emily Francis is working on a seed collection document that will speak to the non-technical person and be useful to anyone interested in helping collect seed and other processes. The guide will be available at the University of Maine this spring for anyone to access.

“I have been continually impressed with the level of involvement and growing interest in our project,” said Professor Daigle. “It was the tribal nations who initially brought their concerns about EAB to us, and we will continually learn together on how to combat EAB and hopefully find ways to sustain brown ash.”

Collectively, this research is creating a bridge between forest health and the social and cultural impacts the emerald ash borer has on native tribes. It will also build a community of interest and garner change across the Wabanaki.

For information on EAB management in Maine, visit the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. To learn more about the research and collaboration with the Wabanaki community, watch the latest installment of the Eastern Region’s FS Talks. 

FS Talks: Ash Protection Across Wabanakik from USDA Forest Service.