A tiny beetle has been wiping out ash trees nationwide, but researchers in Ithaca may have found a way to fight back, according to WENY. Scientists at Cornell Botanic Gardens identified rare ash trees that naturally resist the emerald ash borer and started growing new saplings from them.
Researchers spent much of 2025 battling invasive species across New York, from spotted lanternflies to water chestnut. Ash trees took some of the hardest hits, with the emerald ash borer destroying trees in most U.S. states and causing billions in damage.
Cornell’s work ties into the Trees in Peril project, backed by The Nature Conservancy. The team now asks residents to help spot “lingering ash” trees in the wild so they can protect and regrow them.
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