Take the Pledge--Don't Transport Firewood
America’s forests are threatened by the spread of invasive forest diseases and insects, especially several wood-boring insects, such as the emerald ash borer (EAB), Asian long-horned beetle (ALB), and Sirex woodwasp. These highly destructive pests can kill large numbers of trees and threaten the forest resources upon which we all depend. The emerald ash borer, alone, has already killed more than 20 million ash trees in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana—and it’s spreading!
In an attempt to contain the infestations, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the federal agency charged with regulating invasive species, has established quarantines regulating the movement of infested and susceptible firewood, wood, and trees from infested states and areas. Some states in the areas hit by emerald ash borer and other forest pests no longer allow campers to bring firewood into state campgrounds or recreation areas.
These broad prevention efforts are hard to enforce and don’t cover other areas and species not yet regulated; they are also seriously undermined by the small-scale, unintentional movement of firewood by individuals.
Therefore, the volunteer actions of individuals to help prevent and stem the spread of these invasive pests are very important.
What You Can Do
Since these invasive pests can be transported long distances within infested firewood, you can help protect America’s forests by not transporting firewood.
Spread the message, not the pest. Take the Firewood Pledge today and then tell your family and friends.
Pledge to:
- Use firewood you obtain locally
- Don’t transport firewood from home (e.g., across county lines, especially to second homes such as summer houses, cottages, cabins and hunting shacks);
- Don’t take firewood home that you got elsewhere
- If you’ve already transported firewood, don’t leave it or bring it home – burn it!
You can also report infested trees to concerned officials (click on links below to find reporting instructions).
We’ll send a letter to your legislators to let them know that their constituents, such as yourself, pledged to do their part not to spread forest pests—and we’ll ask them to do their part, too!
The Forest Pests
These are among the most serious pests threatening American forests right now.
Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)(EAB)
|
Origin |
Asia |
| Mode of Introduction to the United States | Probably in wood packing material |
|
Effects
|
This insect kills ash trees and has hit the Great Lakes region hard—already more than 20 million ash trees have been killed in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. EAB prompted quarantines of firewood, logs, or nursery trees in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Maryland—restricting their movement across county and state lines, and has cost forest managers, nurseries, the wood industry, homeowners, and municipalities tens of millions of dollars. Experts fear its eventual impact will be similar to chestnut blight and Dutch elm disease, which devastated U.S. forests in the 20th century. |
More information on the emerald ash borer.
Asian long-horned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) (ALB)
|
Origin |
China and Korea |
| Mode of Introduction to the United States | Via shipping containers |
|
Effects
|
This aggressive beetle kills many species of hardwood tree species (i.e., maple, elm, ash, birch, and poplar) by tunneling inside the trunk and branches and weakening the tree. ALB threatens urban canopy cover, the maple syrup, nursery, and tourist industries, especially in the Northeast, and other hardwood forests. ALB has invaded New York, Illinois, and New Jersey. Currently, state and federal quarantines for these states restrict the movement of firewood across county and state lines. |
More information on the Asian long-horned beetle.
Sirex woodwasp (Sirex noctilio)
|
Origin |
Europe, Asia, North Africa |
| Mode of Introduction to the United States | Infested wooden crates, pallets, and other wood packaging |
|
Effects
|
This wood-boring insect is a vector for the disease fungus, Amylostereum areolatum. Together, this wasp and fungus kill pine trees, and can colonize a wide range of North American pines, including many western species (e.g, Ponderosa pine). In South America, the insect has caused upwards of 80 percent mortality in plantations of North American pines. This is a serious threat to the southeastern timber industry, where all of the important softwood timbers, including loblolly pine, are vulnerable. Potential costs to the pine industries are estimated in the billions of dollars. |
More information on the Sirex woodwasp (pdf).
In the western United States, the forest pathogens that cause sudden oak death and pitch canker are among the most serious invasive species threatening forests, especially oak and pine tree species in California and Oregon.
