This template was developed by the Nebraska Forest Service (NFS) for Nebraska communities to develop a Readiness and Response Plan for the invasive pest, Emerald Ash Borer, or EAB.
This form will guide you through a series of information and questions regarding planning decisions for your community response. Each plan will be unique to each community by representing the specific information that you provide. All plans will have some standard language to provide background information and structure to the document.
The Purpose of a Plan
“We felt the luxury of time was slipping away. When EAB was identified in our neighboring county we solicited help from our Nebraska community forestry specialists.”
This readiness and response plan is a guideline for the processes and decisions to be followed in preparing for and responding to the introduction of the invasive pest, Emerald Ash Borer or EAB (Agrilus planipennis). Forest management plans provide a proactive strategy for mitigating wide-spread environmental impacts and unfeasible budgetary scenarios, while also serving as legal documentation of a reasonable and prudent approach to managing public tree canopy. Ash species (particularly green and white) are a significant component of the urban forest in many Nebraska communities. For communities with a high percentage of ash trees, a reactive approach to EAB can lead to large numbers of dead trees to remove in a short timeframe. This framework outlines the benefits and actions required to proactively manage the ash trees in your community forest in order to mitigate the impacts to budget and overall canopy health.
We recognize communities will be at varying degrees of preparedness and plan implementation. This is not a “one size fits all” community template. Completion of the accompanying webform for this document allows NFS staff to accommodate a municipality’s individual needs.
Where is EAB?
EAB was confirmed to be present in Kearney in June of 2020. This find is the westernmost discovery to date.
How do I complete a Community Response Template?
You will need to complete this form online, which will then be directed to your NFS Community Forestry Specialist. They will then communicate with you about entering in additional data such as any inventory information. Once your Community Forester completes the second round of data entry, you will receive an email with a draft via email for you to proofread. After you communicate any final adjustments to the document, your Community Forester will send you a final draft.
It is critical to have communication between your municipality and tree board if one exists. The municipality is ultimately responsible for the budget and work allocation for the identified responses. Once a final draft is made, the municipality will seek the adoption of the plan by the governing body. A short presentation about the document and the findings within would be most beneficial. This is an opportunity to put your community forest on the agenda and share what great things are happening in your community with its leaders.
After the document is adopted, your Community Forester will be available to connect you to the resources necessary to carry out the identified responses. Whether it be a strategy plan, potential funding, or training. We are here to help you do great things in your Community Forest.
Begin a Community Response TemplateQuestions
If you have questions about completing a response plan, we have answers. Feel free to reach our to our community foresters for advice on starting the process.
