Potential impacts of the invasive Agrilus planipennis on various demographics in Winnipeg, Canada

Abstract

The hardiness of Fraxinus spp. (ash) makes them a common municipal tree in adverse growing conditions. In Winnipeg, Manitoba, the impacts of Dutch elm disease resulted in increased reliance on Fraxinus, resulting in a monoculture of Fraxinus across the city. Emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis) poses substantial risk to Winnipeg's urban forest, forecasted to result in the total loss of Fraxinus in Winnipeg. With a lens of distributional equity, this study examines associations between Fraxinus abundance and distribution and human population demographics at the Dissemination Area and Census Tract levels. There are positive correlations with Fraxinus abundance and distribution and median household income and proportion of the population that self-identifies as a visible minority. Population density was positively associated with Fraxinus abundance and distribution at the Census Tract level. These results underscore the importance of assessing the distribution of vulnerable trees as a component of green equity. Using information on urban forest management in response to EAB, potential issues and possible opportunities are discussed.