The City of Rochester is taking preventive action to avoid infestation of the emerald ash borer.

Thursday morning, crews from Rochester’s Forestry Division began cutting down 300 ash trees along city streets and parks. They hope to stop the spread of the exotic beetle to thousands of other city ash trees.

The emerald ash borer is a small beetle that infests and kills North American ash tree species.

New York State Environmental Protection officials said the ash borer has already been detected in more than 15 counties across the state.

City leaders said new trees, that are not ash, will be planted in place of the downed trees.

City of Rochester