Working together against the emerald ash borer – researchers and authorities met in Krakow

The event was organized within the framework of the EABRACE project, funded by the SLU Forest Damage Centre and the Swedish Institute.

The EABRACE project focuses on monitoring the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) and evaluating the biodiversity of beetles before and during the invasion. The workshop is an important part of strengthening international cooperation on monitoring, control and research coordination of the species in the Baltic States, as well as creating a platform for joint learning and method development to protect Europe's ash tree population. The project brings together researchers and representatives of national plant protection organisations (NPPOs) from Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden and Ukraine.

Professor PhD DSc Jaroslaw Socha, Dean of the Department of Forest Resource Management at the University of Agriculture in Krakow, welcomed all participants and emphasised the importance of collaborative initiatives across neighbouring countries toward the spread of invasive species and protect forest ecosystems.

Iryna Matsiakh, project leader for EABRACE and analyst at the SLU Forest Damage Centre (FDC), took over and held an ice-breaking activity with the participants, followed by an overview of the project's activities during the year and the initial results from the partner countries. During the conference, the group also had the opportunity to discuss the methodological aspects of the project with the project's external entomologist James Connell, with valuable contributions from Lukas Mayer, Director of the company WITASEK.

International perspectives on the emerald beetle and forest health

Several guest speakers enriched the workshop and contributed to valuable knowledge exchange and discussions. They shared their experiences in monitoring and practical trapping methods, as well as innovative monitoring approaches and the use of robotic technology for species identification. The workshop also addressed how urban trees and botanical gardens can serve as important sites for monitoring, how quarantine pests are detected, and how the emerald ash borer affects forest biodiversity. Other key topics included the interaction between the emerald ash borer and ash dieback, new modelling approaches, and regional cooperation on field trials and control strategies.

In-depth insight into Ukraine's work against the emerald ash borer

One of the highlights of the workshop was when representatives from Ukraine, including experts from the State Enterprise ‘Forests of Ukraine’, State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine and and the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, shared their insights on the emerald ash borer. Presentations by Tetiana Kucheriavenko and Marta Kostetska provided participants with unique information on the current spread of the borer in Ukraine, the development of local populations, damage interactions with ash trees, and the quarantine measures implemented by official authorities since the pest was first detected in 2019.

Practical sessions

The first of two practical sessions was a technical session that addressed challenges in trapping, the rationale for using specific trap types, regulatory restrictions, and other factors that influence diagnostic workflows. The second was a microscopy session, which proved to be both engaging and enjoyable for all participants.

The event concluded with a demonstration of molecular field detection of pests and pathogens using the LAMP method within the framework of the Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) project, followed by a summary discussion that set the focus for future collaborative initiatives in the Baltic region – accompanied by many sincere hugs and words of gratitude.