Items of Interest:

State Officials Confirm Emerald Ash Borer Detected in Massachusetts for First Time (PDF | 24 KB) (Sep 12, 2012)
Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
Officials with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR) have announced that the emerald ash borer (EAB) has been detected in Massachusetts. The destructive beetle was detected in the western Massachusetts Town of Dalton on Aug 31, 2012, and was confirmed by federal officials on Sep 6. Massachusetts is the 18th state in the country to detect EAB. See the forestry past meeting information to learn more about recent public meetings and view the presentations. If you think you have seen EAB or signs of EAB tree damage in Massachusetts, use the Emerald Ash Borer Reporting Form.

Boxwood Blight Found in Massachusetts (Dec 2011)
University of Massachusetts Extension. Agriculture and Landscape Program.
In December 2011, the UMass Extension Plant Diagnostic Lab working with samples collected by MA Dept. of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) inspectors positively identified boxwood blight (Cylindrocladium pseudonaviculatum) in Massachusetts. This disease is spread primarily by water (rain splash, irrigation, runoff, etc.) and by the movement of plant material in the trade. The best management strategy at this point, before more is known about this pathogen, is to not introduce any boxwoods from unverified sources, either into the nursery or landscape.

Asian Longhorned Beetle Eradication Program
Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach Project.
The Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis, "ALB"), a pest of hardwood trees including maple, birch and horse chestnut, was first discovered in Worcester, Massachusetts in 2008. Since their discovery, $50 million in federal and state money has been spent to eradicate the beetle, and 25,000 infested trees in the Worcester area have been cut down in an effort to halt the spread. See Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Asian Longhomed Beetle site for the latest federal news and information, and survey and treatment maps.

If you think you have seen this beetle, we encourage you to submit a report and photos, or you can call the toll-free hotline at 1-866-702-9938.

Latest Hot Topic: Zebra Mussel
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Zebra mussels, a highly aggressive aquatic invasive species, was discovered at Laurel Lake in Aug 2009. A Clean Boat Cerfication Form (PDF | 647 KB) is required for all watercraft at state boat ramps that are determined to be a high or moderate risk for zebra mussel colonization. Failure to comply can result in a fine.

State Specific Threats:

Nonindigenous Aquatic Species List - Massachusetts or Display NAS by Taxonomic Group (select State)
DOI. USGS. Southeast Ecological Science Center.
Includes fact sheets, maps and collection information.

State Noxious Weed List - Massachusetts
USDA. NRCS. National Plant Data Center. PLANTS Database.
Designated legally noxious plants.

Status of Invasive Plants - Massachusetts / Details by State and Details by County
University of Georgia. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System.

Pest Tracker - Massachusetts
USDA. APHIS. Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey. National Agricultural Pest Information System.

Forest Threat Summary Viewer - Massachusetts
USDA. FS. Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center.
See what threats (invasive plants, insects and diseases) are in my state.

States Restricting Firewood Movement and/or Advocating Leaving Firewood at Home: Who is Affected?
The Nature Conservancy. Don't Move Firewood.