Burn it Where You Buy it to Stop Invasive Species
by Union of Concerned Scientists on 06. 4.07
Last week's Memorial Day weekend kicked off the start of summer. Like many others in the Northern Hemisphere, your summer plans might include a picnic or camping trip in one of many beautiful state or national parks, national forests, or private campgrounds.
You probably already know that to protect the beauty of these special places you should remove your trash and put out your campfire before you head home. But did you know that you also should not transport firewood?
Forests are threatened by non-native forest pests—highly destructive insects and diseases that threaten our forests and the clean water, recreation, and other resources they provide. Since these forest pests survive inside wood where you can’t see them, they can be transported long distances by accident. You can help protect forests with a simple action—Don’t transport firewood!
This summer, spread the message, not the pest. Take the Firewood Pledge today and then tell your family and friends.
This post is extremely important. I live in Michigan where the Ash tree population has been devastated by the emerald ash borer, a particularly nasty invasive species. Michigan has even gone so far as to put up billboards on nearly all the major highways urging people not to transport firewood, and in fact, you can even get a hefty fine if you get caught transporting firewood between county borders.
For more info: http://www.emeraldashborer.info/
It can be very expensive too. In Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, we have Quarantine areas because of the Ash Borer. If you are caught transporting firewood out of the Quarantine, you face large fines. All the Ash trees in the country are facing destruction because of people moving firewood. Drive 75N to Detroit, and you will see the tremendous effects.
http://www.emeraldashborer.info