Ash dieback is an increasing problem in Groningen, where a fungus causes ash trees to die branch by branch. Tree expert Bert Plate said that only about 10 percent of the affected trees would eventually survive. A 2017 study by the Groninger Bomenwacht found that most municipalities estimated infection rates above 50 percent, with some reporting rates between 75 and 100 percent. Across the Netherlands, the State Forestry estimates that 80 percent of ash trees have been affected.

Municipalities are monitoring infected trees and generally remove them sooner when they stand alongside busy roads, cycle paths or walking routes and pose a safety risk. Westerkwartier does not intervene in forests because dead trees contribute to a healthy forest. Midden-Groningen has cleared and replanted parts of parks and nature reserves with other tree species to reduce vulnerability to disease, pests and changing climate conditions. Groningen municipality manages about 16,000 ash trees, while Westerkwartier and Midden-Groningen have nearly 8,000 and more than 3,700 respectively.