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Suzanne Bond (301) 734-5175 USDA BEGINS TREE RESTORATION IN MASSACHUSETTS’ ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE-IMPACTED AREA WASHINGTON, April 25, 2009--The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced that the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) cooperative eradication program will begin to restore the tree canopy in Worcester, Mass., by planting 150 trees this spring. APHIS and its cooperators are currently eradicating an infestation of the invasive insect in the Worcester area. The Mount Avenue neighborhood in Worcester’s Greendale area will be the first to receive ALB program restoration trees. Homeowners will select from an array of tree species that are not vulnerable to ALB infestation such as oaks, beech and linden trees and will work with program personnel on placement of the trees on their property beginning in May. The number of trees each homeowner receives will be coordinated through consultation with ALB program personnel and will be determined by the terrain and soil conditions on the land, the location and species of trees already on the property, and adjacent properties and the number and size of trees removed through ALB eradication efforts. Several additional tree-planting efforts are also underway in the ALB-regulated area, including the Worcester Tree Initiative and efforts by the City of Worcester to replace street trees. Homeowners who receive trees through the Worcester Tree Initiative or purchase their own may receive trees from the ALB program restoration effort. However, ALB program personnel may determine that a property planted with trees from other sources could not sustain additional trees. In such cases, homeowners would not receive ALB program trees. # Note to Reporters: USDA news releases, program announcements and media advisories are available on the Internet. Go to the APHIS news release page at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom. Also, anyone with an email address can sign up to receive APHIS press releases automatically. Send an email message to lyris@mdrdlyriss10.aphis.usda.gov and leave the subject blank. In the message, type
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