PARIS — An invasive pest that attacks ash trees is believed to be in Maine and could kill an important source of wood for businesses, an official at the Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District said.

“We’re pretty sure it’s here. We just haven’t found it yet,” Administrative Assistant Jean E. Federico said.

Once it hits the ash trees, they will die and along with it the wood that is used for furniture-making, flooring and native basket-making.

The public is encouraged to attend the annual meeting of the Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District to learn firsthand about the threat and how it is being tackled. The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at First Congregational Church, 17 East Main St. in Paris.

Lorraine Taft, forest pest outreach project coordinator, will be the guest speaker. She will provide an update on the recent emerald ash borer beetle quarantine in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, which lies on the western border of Maine. She will also talk about the possibility of a municipal emerald ash borer management plan.

“This loss is going to change the face of Maine much the way it did when we lost chestnut trees,” Federico said.

In July, specialists from the State Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, members of the Oxford County Soil and Water Conservation District and recent trainees of the Forest Pest Outreach and Survey Project met on Paris Hill to survey more than 200 ash trees for signs of the damaging emerald ash borer.

Taft said Thursday that even though there were ash trees found with noticeable damage to the crowns, none of it was a result of emerald ash borer.

“There was no evidence of the beetle found during our survey,” she said.

“This insect spreads easily on firewood movement from infested areas, and because of the camps within the Oxford County area and past industry in the area, we believe that educating the population is important,” she said.

Taft said Oxford Hills has a significant number of urban ash, many of a mature size.

“Some of it has been storm damaged over the years, and some is planted on very thin soil,” she said.

Federico said it’s important for towns and residents to have the information on the disease, because it will impact many areas when it arrives. Areas of trees will be quarantined and wood will not be allowed to be moved off site. Hefty fines will be implemented for violators.

“Time is essential in a productive response to this invasive pest,” Taft said.

Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. for $10 per person. A check or money order may be made out to OCSWCD and mailed to 17 Olson Road, Suite 3, South Paris, ME 04281. Reservations will be taken until Friday, Nov. 28.

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