The forest area of Domaine de Maizerets is being cleared of hundreds of ash trees while major felling operations are underway, leaving certain areas completely devoid of mature trees.
In total, more than 1,300 trees, all ash, will be felled at the Domaine de Maizerets by 2027 to combat the epidemic linked to the emerald ash borer, which is wreaking havoc in several parts of the city.
The damage caused by this insect from Asia is striking when walking along the Domaine's hiking trails, where certain areas have been almost leveled and dozens of tree trunks litter the ground.
At the Domaine de Maizerets, hundreds of ancient trees had to be felled to counteract the damaging effects of the emerald ash borer. Photo Elisa Cloutier
This is currently the third phase of ash felling at Domaine de Maizerets, with 350 ash trees to be felled by February 2nd. “Logging is intended to ensure the development of the forest [sentiers]public places and nearby properties related to falling branches or ash tree trunks attacked by the borer,” specifies Quebec City spokesperson Isabelle Petit.
Since felling work began in this sector in 2021, more than 1,200 ash trees have been felled. By 2027 there will be around a hundred more.
The emerald ash borer has wreaked havoc on the Domaine de Maizerets, where more than 1,200 ash trees have been felled so far. Photo Elisa Cloutier
Reforestation
City officials plan to replant nearly 450 trees in the hardest-hit areas next summer and fall. According to the city, almost 500 more trees and bushes will be replanted by 2027.
Several logs litter the ground at the Domaine de Maizerets, where large ash trees are currently being felled to counteract the effects of the emerald ash borer. Photo Elisa Cloutier
Since its arrival here, precisely in the Montcalm district, in 2017, the emerald ash borer has severely affected the condition of the city's ash trees.
“So far, interventions have mainly focused on urban areas to ensure good management of the 12,000 ash trees in the municipal inventory. In the coming years, the number of operations in forest areas will increase, from around 2,750 cases related to the emerald ash borer in 2023 to over 4,250 in 2027,” explains Ms. Petit.
Ultimately, all municipal ash trees should be felled by 2032. Every tree will eventually be replaced, the city confirms.
In total, Quebec City has almost 132,000 ash trees on its territory, while there are almost 326,000 on private land.
The budget for the fight against this pest insect, which has no predators on our continent and is well adapted to our climate, was recently increased from $15 million to $45 million over 15 years.
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