Unintended Consequences of Transporting Firewood

With the temperatures dipping below freezing, many of us are burning wood in fireplaces or wood stoves. The following article is written by Marcia Anderson from EPA's Greening the Apple Blog. It is a good reminder to be careful when buying, transporting and burning firewood in order to prevent the spread of destructive invasive pests.


Over the past 15 years, exotic insects like the Asian longhorned beetle, emerald ash borer  (EAB), and hemlock woolly adelgid have killed millions of trees in cities and forests across the United States. Once established in new areas, these pests can quickly kill trees in our favorite forests, parks, communities, and campgrounds. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that over 30 million ash trees have already been killed by the emerald ash borer in Michigan alone, with millions dead or dying in other states (see related blog).

Split firewood in a backyard
Photo: ©L. Greenwood; The Nature Conservancy

Firewood has been shown to be an especially troublesome means by which pests are spread. According to the USDA, the best preventative measure to protect our uninfested urban and rural forests from these pests is to limit the movement of infested materials, including firewood.
Firewood is frequently moved long distances by campers and retailers. Not surprisingly, pest infestations are showing up around campgrounds and highway rest areas. In many states, all trees used as firewood are now regulated since they have the potential to harbor invasive insects and diseases.

Firewood has historically been moved with little consideration of the pests it could be harboring. However, the issue is getting increasing attention. This year, USDA and several states put out urgent pleas to avoid transporting firewood Exit.

Emerald ash borer and its damage to an ash tree
Image: National Park Service

To protect forests and trees that are threatened by a host of invasive insects and diseases, regulation has become necessary. While regulations vary by state, they generally include restrictions on importing firewood, the movement of firewood within the state, and the transportation of firewood into state, local and federal parks.

Thirty states have imposed various levels of quarantine as a result of the emerald ash borer. In the Northeast alone, most states have restrictions on the movement of wood products. Other states, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Maryland, have also imposed regulations on the movement and importation of firewood. Some regulations do not allow the transport of wood beyond a 50-mile radius of an EAB-restricted zone. A restricted zone is the quarantine of an infested area that prohibits the movement of logs and firewood outside of the zone. Check USDA’s quarantine map before you move firewood, even to another town. Because EAB does not travel far on its own, limiting human transportation of infested material will slow its spread.

Camping firewood on the move.
Photo: © L. Greenwood; The Nature Conservancy

It is recommended to use locally-sourced firewood, or firewood that has been confirmed as pest free. Firewood producers and dealers must provide documentation on the source of their firewood. Note that seasoned wood alone is not an adequate treatment method because some insects can survive in untreated firewood for many months. Only firewood that is heat treated, kiln-dried (160° F for at least 75 minutes), is allowed to be brought into parks with source documentation.
Be warned that RVs and other vehicles that have been parked for long periods of time can also harbor tree pests and their eggs. If not removed prior to a road trip, these vehicles can introduce pests into a previously uninfested area. So, take the time to check your vehicle, especially the wheel wells, and remove any insects you find. You can also wash down your camper between trips to help remove any hitchhiking pests.

What is at risk from transporting these pests? The trees in your backyard, along your streets, and in your neighborhood, along with the wildlife that depend on them. In addition, jobs in the timber and forestry industries and manufacturing sector (flooring, cabinets, pallets, and even baseball bats) are impacted. A direct consequence to taxpayers are the costs borne by cities and towns to remove the hazardous trees killed by these pests.
Preventing the spread of pests is one component of an Integrated Pest Management program. Doing your part will help sustain the health of our great forest resources and neighborhood trees.

About the Author: Marcia is with EPA’s Center of Expertise for School IPM in Dallas, Texas. She holds a PhD in Environmental Management from Montclair State University along with degrees in Biology, Environmental Design, Landscape Architecture, and Instruction and Curriculum. Marcia was formerly with the EPA Region 2 Pesticides Program and has been a professor of Earth and Environmental Studies, Geology, and Oceanography at several universities.

Editor's Note: The opinions expressed here are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.

Shopping and GMO Labeling

Clear Non-GMO labels

As you are doing your holiday grocery shopping, you may or may not notice labels identifying whether or not an item contains genetically modified organisms (GMOs). It is encouraging that in spite of the adoption of the so called "Dark Act" this past July (Public Law 114-216) more and more products are being voluntarily labeled as Non GMO or as containing genetically engineered ingredients.

The federal law preempts any state law relating to the labeling of genetically engineered food. This included Vermont's law which had just gone into effect on July 1st. Under the federal law the Secretary of Agriculture has two years to adopt "a national mandatory bioengineered food disclosure standard." One controversial aspect of the law is that the disclosure does not have to be a text label, but can  be a symbol or an electronic link. This is why the Act is known by opponents as the Dark Act. As a consumer who wants to be able to read a label and know what is in the package before buying, a link that I would have to look up later, since I do not own a Smart phone, would be useless in making a purchasing decision.

The increasing desire of consumers to know more about where their food is coming from and the reports that have been published over the safety of GMOs and their production has resulted in many food producers labeling their products even before the adoption of any state or federal requirement. And with the passage of these laws,  more and more companies are being proactive and labeling their products now.

Non-GMO Project Label

I am not going to discuss the pros and cons of genetically engineered crops in this blog, but if you want to avoid GMOs entirely, one simple was is to buy USDA Organic labeled foods since the USDA organic standards do not allow the use of genetic engineering in organic products. However, if you are just interested in knowing that the product you are buying is not made with genetic engineering the not for profit Non-GMO Project organization offers a third party verification program and once a product is certified, it can display their label which sports an orange butterfly.  Of course the Non-GMO label is voluntary, but many food producers want to take advantage of a label in the hopes that consumers, if given a choice, will choose the Non-GMO option. Just be aware that as with the over-use of  "Gluten-Free" labels, some companies may apply the Non-GMO label to products for which there isn't even a genetically modified option, making their labeled product no different than the same product without a Non-GMO label. For example the bag above of Hodgson Mill Corn Meal labeled as Non-GMO means something since corn is one of the most largely genetically engineered crop in the United States. However, a bag of wheat flour labeled as such would be meaningless since there is currently no genetically modified wheat grown in the world.

One thing that is certain, genetically engineered food is not going away and GMO labeling is one way of providing information to the consumer on the source of their food, which is always a good thing.

Sausage, Mushroom and Rice Stuffing

This rice dish is perfect for stuffing small pumpkins or squash. It can also be served as a meal unto itself. The maple syrup makes this creamy rice dish super sweet and delicious.
  
Ingredients:
2 to 4 small sugar pumpkins
8 oz sweet sausage
1 Tablespoons olive oil
1 onion chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
8 oz sliced mushrooms
2 cups cooked rice
1/2 cup fresh Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon thyme; 1/4 teaspoon sage
salt and pepper
1/4 cup fresh parsley
2 eggs beaten
2 Tablespoons maple syrup

Cut tops of pumpkin and scoop out seeds. Remove top and bake at 375 degrees upside down in a pan with about an inch of water for 45 minutes. Remove from oven. While pumpkin is cooking, brown sausage with onion and garlic. Add mushrooms and cook until soft. Stir in rice and spices. Add beaten eggs and maple syrup and stir in cheese, saving some for topping. Stuff pumpkin with rice filling, top with cheese. Extra can be baked in a casserole dish. Bake for 45 minutes to an hour until pumpkin is cooked. Serve whole or cut in half.

Sausage, mushroom and rice stuffing

A November Hike

November is here. The clocks are turned back and we can now awaken to the sun, instead of the dark - at least for a few weeks anyway. The brown oak and yellow beech leaves still cling to the trees, but most of the others have fallen. There is still some color in the woods, but the bare branches of some trees quietly announce the long months of winter ahead. It is not one of my favorite months, and if given a choice, I might decide to just curl up in a chair and read a book instead of venturing out on a damp November day. However, with a little thought and effort I realize that there are plenty of activities that can be enjoyed before the first snowflakes fly. This weekend, I am glad that my son Aaron, asked me to go on a hike. He had heard about a short hike in Weare, the town where he and his two brothers were born. Although we lived there for nine years, I was not familiar with Buxton Forest - which makes me wonder if it had not yet been made into a public preserve. The Buxton Forest/Elizabeth Simons Preserve is maintained by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (SPNHF) who have created a marked trail and cleared a viewpoint atop Mount Wallingford.

The hike is either 2.5 or 3.2 miles round trip, depending on whether you believe this sign, or the SPNHF website. It is mostly flat and takes you by some nice wetlands.

These wetlands provide critical habitat for a variety of species and even on this grey November day we saw one duck and an unidentified mammal in the water.

There were plenty of leaves on the trail, but it is well marked so even with the thick layer of leaves, it was fairly easy to follow.

The hike is rated as moderate to strenuous. The reason for this becomes apparent toward the later portion of the trail, which rises steeply. Although not difficult, it does get the blood pumping. All of the effort, brings you to this fine Northeast view.

 

It was a cloudy day, so the mountains were somewhat obscured, but it was spot to relax and enjoy our lunch just the same. Shortly past this point, there is a nice stone wall. 

This time of year you won't find any wildflowers in the woods, but it you keep your eyes peeled, you can spot some interesting plants and fungi.

Shelf Fungus

Club moss (below) is an attractive plant that resembles baby evergreen trees. Interestingly the spores are rich in oil and highly flammable.¹ They have been used to make dusting powder for use in surgery, as a water repellent in baby powder and to ignite fireworks. They were also used in Indian ceremonies to produce a flash of light when tossed into a fire. The plants have also been harvested for use in holiday decorations, although this practice is now discouraged.²

Lycopodium annotinum

Afterwards, we took a different route home, traveling through Hopkinton and making a short detour to Gould Hill Orchards for some cider and another beautiful view. As much as I enjoy reading a good book, it felt much better to get some fresh air and exercise outside.

References:
¹ Central Yukon Species Project, http://www.flora.dempstercountry.org/0.Site.Folder/Species.Program/Species.php?species_id=Lyco.anno
² Virginia Native Plant Society,  http://vnps.org/princewilliamwildflowersociety/botanizing-with-marion/clubmosses-an-ancient-and-interesting-group-of-fern-allies/