Oregon is launching a public outreach campaign with Washington and Idaho in 2010 to inform the public about making responsible choices relative to firewood. Firewood has been found to be a significant vector of wood-borne invasive species, such as Emerald Ash borer, Asian long-horned beetle, and Sudden Oak Death. People that buy and burn local firewood lessen the threat of introducing and spreading these and other pests and diseases throughout the United States. This is one issue where everyone can make a difference!
But our success will depend on changing public behavior as well as creating an affordable market for firewood. Oregonians take pride in cutting their own wood and taking it to campsites - we want to encourage cutting the wood or buying the wood locally. Firewood suppliers need to find economical ways to sell bundles of wood for far less than the $4 to $6 for several sticks of wood. With an emphasis on cutting and buying local, the potential for success is great.
What's at stake? This incredibly special place we call Oregon.
Lisa, this is an excellent idea that should greatly reduce the risk of importing invasive pests via out-of-state firewood. When we have dissected firewood here at ODA, almost every bundle has live insects associated with it.
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