Think of it as pruning the rose bushes, or – perhaps more aptly – weeding the garden.

The powers-that-be have pretty much determined that a systematic removal of certain trees throughout the city is necessary for the overall health and well being of the rest of the “forest.”

An unwelcome invader, agrilus planipennis, commonly known as the emerald ash borer, has been showing its nasty little boring parts in our general vicinity, and it’s got our resident arborists jumpy.

The effect these critters can have on a regional tree population is not to be taken lightly. They primarily infest and can cause significant damage to ash trees, but have also been known to feast on a wide variety of arboreal prey.

In urban areas such as ours, trees are often removed once an infestation is found to reduce borer population densities and the likelihood of further spread. Urban ash are typically replaced with non-ash species such as maple, oak, or linden to limit food sources for the bugs.

No matter how you slice it, urgent action seems to be needed right away to curtail the spread of this infestation.

The greenery in our city is a vital part of its character, as mere brick and mortar alone can never be. Thinning out the weaklings and bringing in replacements over time is the way proper environmental management is done.

We should be grateful that we have the knowhow and the will to see these matters through properly. Then we can all walk with ease through our lovely urban jungle, free from fear of … those borers!