PORTLAND, Maine — The city of Portland is taking steps to remove roughly two-thirds of all Ash trees in the city to protect and preserve the rest of the ash trees. The removal is all part of ongoing efforts to combat the emerald ash borer, an invasive tree pest. The insects were first discovered in the city in 2019 and the city forestry team has been working with the state to deal with the infestation. The city has inventoried more than 600 ash street trees and they are working to save as many as possible through the use of treatments and organic bio-controls, but officials say many will succumb to the pest and need to be removed and replaced over the next three to five years. …This spring, a second group of trees will be selected for stem-injected insecticide treatments.