Environment
New trees of all types to replace damaged ashes
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By IAN K. KULLGREN
Capital News Service
LANSING — The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has awarded $90,000 to help cities regrow urban forests damaged by the emerald ash borer plague. Twenty-one cities and environmental groups will receive between $800 and $20,000 each to replace trees and fund environmental education programs.
Groups in Wayne County received $10,000 to plant trees in Livonia and repair nature trails in Detroit. Among the other recipients are Traverse City, Cadillac, Big Rapids, Holland and Three Rivers. Emerald ash borers have killed 50 million trees in the Great Lakes region during the past 12 years, according to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Natural resources officials say they hope to prevent future tree losses by encouraging communities to plant a diverse crop of trees.