The National Capital Commission says it’s preparing to spend thousands of dollars to help it clean up the aftermath of the emerald ash borer infestation that has killed countless trees across the region.
The Crown corporation oversees large swaths of forest both within urban areas of Ottawa and Gatineau, as well as in the Greenbelt and Gatineau Park. It recently published a procurement notice that seeks to create a standing offer that would allow it to hire pre-approved forestry contractors at agreed-upon rates and conditions to remove large volumes of ash trees and invasive shrubs from areas within a roughly 20-kilometre radius of Parliament Hill.
“The ash trees in the selected areas are heavily infested with the emerald ash borer and are either dead, or in advanced stages of decline,” the NCC stated.
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Procurement documents state that each call-up will be worth between $10,000 and $150,000.
On the municipal front, the City of Ottawa reportedly budgets $5.4 million annually to fight the invasive species and warns individual landowners that removing and stumping a single urban tree can cost $1,000 per tree.