justnorth posted on May 23, 2007 06:36 :: 1431 Views
Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial start of the summer camping and recreation season. Those who plan to build campfires need to be aware of new firewood movement restrictions recently signed into law by Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
"The legislation means that as of May 4, people are allowed to bring only approved firewood onto state lands," said Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Commissioner Mark Holsten.
Firewood may be obtained when a person arrives at a state park, or from an approved firewood dealer who is selling it.
"Campfires are an important part of the outdoor experience for many people," Holsten noted. "But it is also important that we take steps to prevent the importation of forest pests such as the emerald ash borer (EAB) and gypsy moth, known to 'hitchhike' on firewood from infected areas. The bottom line is that we must protect our native trees and other vegetation as rigorously as we can."
EAB is a tiny beetle that is devastating forests and neighborhoods in Canada and several of Minnesota's neighboring states. To date, EAB has killed more than 20 million ash trees and infested over 40,000 square miles in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Canada.
Many park visitors bring firewood with them when camping in state parks or forest campgrounds, said Chuck Kartak, DNR Parks and Recreation Division deputy director.
"It's important now that we quickly adjust this camping practice by purchasing wood when arriving at the state campsite facility, or from an approved vendor on the way," Kartak said. "By doing this, we protect the resources that make our state parks and forests so special."
The DNR defines approved firewood as:
- firewood offered for sale by vendors currently under contract with the DNR
- firewood offered for sale by vendors who have successfully completed an application process requiring that a proof of purchase is provided to customers, and requiring that the wood originated within Minnesota and within 100 miles of where it will be used
- firewood offered for sale by vendors that is documented to have been treated by a method that ensures it is free of EAB.
The three approved treatment methods include removal of bark and the outer one-half inch of sapwood; kiln drying of firewood to United States Department of Agriculture specifications; or heat-treating firewood to U.S. Department of Agriculture specifications.
Kartak said that although the firewood restrictions might seem confusing, "the thing people should remember is to buy firewood from an approved vendor close to the place where they will be recreating."
Movement of firewood has been closely associated with the spread of several very damaging forest pests, including EAB and gypsy moth, as well as the pathogens that cause Dutch elm disease and oak wilt. Minnesota's forests and neighborhood trees are at particular risk from EAB. Ash were used extensively as street trees to replace elms lost to Dutch elm disease in the 1970s and 1980s. The state has the third largest volume of ash timber in the nation.
For more information about firewood on state lands, call the DNR's Information Center at (651) 296-6157 or toll-free at 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367), or visit the DNR Web site at
www.dnr.state.mn.us and click on the "Leave Firewood at Home" button.
For more details on where to get firewood, people are advised to call the state park or facility where they will be recreating.
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