Wabanaki basketmakers work to protect ash trees from invasive beetle
Basketmakers, scientists and officials are using seeds, insecticides and wasps to fight emerald ash borer and preserve brown ash
Wabanaki basketmakers, scientists and government officials in Maine are working together to protect ash trees threatened by the invasive emerald ash borer, according to Inside Climate News.
The beetle, first identified in the United States in 2002, has spread to dozens of states and can kill nearly all ash trees it infests within years. Brown ash, known as the “basket tree” among Wabanaki tribes, is central to traditional basketmaking.
Efforts to protect ash include seed collection, selective tree cutting, insecticide treatments and the release of parasitic wasps to control beetle populations. Tribal groups are also storing harvested wood and developing nurseries to grow future trees. Organizers say combining Indigenous knowledge with scientific approaches is key to sustaining both the species and the cultural practice.
- 1.Sydney Cromwell. Inside Climate News, .
Help us keep the fire burning, make a donation to Buffalo’s Fire
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we exist to illuminate tribal government decision-making for everyone who cares about transparency about Native issues. Our work bridges the gap left by tribe-controlled media and non-Native, extractive journalism, providing the insights necessary for informed choices and a better quality of life. Because the consequences of restricted press freedom affect our communities every day, our trauma-informed reporting is rooted in a deep, firsthand expertise.
Every gift helps keep the fire burning. A monthly contribution makes the biggest impact. Cancel anytime.