Work Progresses in the Fight Against the Emerald Ash Borer on Mount Royal

Felling operations to eliminate infected ash trees on Mount Royal are underway since early February. This type of operation must take place in the winter to minimize impacts on soil, vegetation cover and nesting birds. To date, over 800 ash trees have been cut down in the summit area. Depending on their diameter, ash trees are either transformed on site into wood chips (this destroys emerald ash borer larvae present under the bark) or recovered for various urban projects using local wood. In total, of the 10,000 ash trees inventoried in 2017 in Mount Royal Park and Tiohtià:ke Otsira'kéhne Park on Outremont Summit, approximately 4,000 ash trees will be felled by 2020. The remaining 6,000 ash trees have been treated in order to ensure the longevity of ash trees on Mount Royal. Now that work on the summit is completed, felling operations will continue in March in the woods next to Boulevard Mont-Royal and on Outremont Summit in the Tiohtià:ke Otsira'kéhne Park. Work will pause during the summer and will resume in the autumn in different areas.

In order to prevent the spread of the emerald ash borer, users are reminded not to move or retrieve branches or pieces of trunks of felled ash trees as they may contain emerald ash borer larvae. To be recovered properly without any traces of borer, large pieces such as trunks must be treated by specialists.

Les amis de la montagne wishes to remind everyone that it is important to respect all signs put in place during felling operations to respect the natural environment.