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Some American cities will lose most of their trees to insects by 2050, new study claims

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A new study published this month showed the United States will likely lose over 1.4 million trees on urban streets by 2050 due to infestations of various insects.

The study, which focused on trees planted along city streets in hundreds of cities nationwide as they are the most closely managed, found that cities like New York, Milwaukee and Chicago are likely to be most affected by the loss of street trees as infestations of native and invasive insect species may possibly wipe out entire species of trees, like the ash.

The emerald ash borer, a beetle that originated in Asia and was first seen in the US in 2002, produces larvae beneath ash bark, sapping the tree of nutrients and ultimately killing it. The study says these beetles will make up 90 percent of tree loss, as they spread easily via firewood and nursery trees.

The study warns the cost of the loss of so many urban trees will be high, and suggests cities begin planning now to avoid total devastation of trees on their streets.

The most effective way to avoid this is to plant a variety of trees throughout cities, instead of a single species. “Increasing urban tree diversity provides resilience against pest infestations,” said the study’s lead author, Emma Hudgins. 

ARTICLE: LAURA SPIVAK

MANAGING EDITOR: CARSON CHOATE

PHOTO CREDITS: PHYS.ORG

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Laura Spivak

Laura is a freelance writer out of Maryland and a mom of three. Her background is in political science and international relations, and she has been doing political writing and editing for 17 years. Laura has also written parenting pieces for the Today Show and is currently working on writing a collection of remarkable true stories about normal people. She writes for FBA because unbiased news is vital to unity, and readers deserve the facts free of opinion.

Laura is a freelance writer out of Maryland and a mom of three. Her background is in political science and international relations, and she has been doing political writing and editing for 17 years. Laura has also written parenting pieces for the Today Show and is currently working on writing a collection of remarkable true stories about normal people. She writes for FBA because unbiased news is vital to unity, and readers deserve the facts free of opinion.

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