05/15/2008

Firewood Can Be a Risk to the Environment: Ohio State Experts

Writer:

Mauricio Espinoza
espinoza.15@osu.edu
(330) 202-3550

Source:

Gary Graham, OSU Extension
graham.124@osu.edu
(330) 263-3799

• Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week, May 18-25, highlights invasive species threat

WOOSTER, Ohio — Memorial Day is almost here. The camping season is quickly getting underway. And when it comes to camping, firewood is one of those things that help make trips to the great outdoors fun and memorable.

But firewood can also destroy the natural treasures that make camping and other outdoor activities enjoyable, according to Ohio State University environmental experts. Pests such as emerald ash borer (EAB) can hide in firewood and infest new areas where that firewood is transported. In fact, many infestations of EAB — an invasive pest that kills ash trees — have been caused by people moving firewood and parts of ash trees in Ohio and in other Midwest and eastern states.

“Insects and diseases naturally spread a minimal distance in search of mates and food, and to establish new colonies,” said Gary Graham, a natural resources specialist with OSU Extension. “However, when firewood infested with an insect or disease is moved to a farther location, a ‘hot spot’ — much like in a forest fire — is started, advancing the spread of the pest and its damage to the environment even more.”

Using local sources of firewood helps prevent these hot spots and protect our natural resources, Graham pointed out.

EAB has already killed millions of ash trees in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ontario, Canada. The Asian pest is especially devastating because it kills healthy as well as stressed trees, even threatening the existence of ash trees throughout North America as it continues to spread. In Ohio, EAB has already spread to 35 counties.

This year, Ohio State has joined the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in declaring May 18-25 as “Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week,” in an effort to get the word out about this pest and the ways citizens can help minimize its impact. Many communities will be tagging trees with signs and caution tape to draw attention to the EAB issue. Various educational programs will be taking place throughout the state as well.

Obtaining wood locally and burning it completely on-site are not only good environmental practices. In some parts of Ohio, moving firewood can also be illegal. So far, Ohio has quarantined more than 40 counties for EAB. This means it is against the law to move ash trees, parts of an ash tree and all hardwood firewood out of quarantined areas without a state-approved compliance agreement. In Ohio, violators who transport hardwood firewood and ash tree materials out of a quarantined area into a non-quarantined area face fines up to $4,000.

For details about Ohio’s EAB regulations, call the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) at (888) OHIO-EAB; or check out ODA’s Web site, http://www.ohioagriculture.gov/eab/plnt-eab-regulations.stm.

To find out more about EAB, contact your local OSU Extension office or log on to http://www.ashalert.osu.edu.

OSU Extension is the outreach arm of Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

-30-