From Minnesota: Proposed firewood restrictions from DNR aim to thwart pests

Associated Press

ST. PAUL - The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources wants lawmakers to approve what could be some of the strictest firewood restrictions in the Upper Midwest before the spring camping season starts.

The DNR hopes a proposed ban on unapproved firewood will head off infestations of tree-destroying bugs such as the emerald ash borer.

Firewood provides easy transportation for destructive forest pests seeking to invade new territories, often where the native trees are defenseless. Without a ride, the bugs can't move very fast - usually less than a mile a year.

"We, along with many other states, are trying to move to a culture change, recognizing this is a pathway in which these harmful species can be artificially moved to new areas," said Ed Quinn, the DNR's coordinator of the resource management program for state parks.

The draft policy would restrict the use of firewood in 58 state forests, 72 park and recreation areas and other lands administered by the DNR. Only approved firewood would be allowed, including wood sold on site, wood bought from a regulated seller who gathered it within 50 miles of the park, debarked wood and dimensional lumber such as 2-by-4s.

The agency doesn't have legislative sponsors yet.

The proposal would go beyond restrictions in six other Midwestern states.

Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin bar wood from infested locations or other states. Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota request that campers don't bring in out-of-state firewood but don't actually ban it.

In a state with a wealth of ash trees, Minnesota officials are particularly concerned about the emerald ash borer. The tiny green bugs have killed millions of ash trees in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana since 2002. Michigan's restrictions on firewood came too late to prevent extensive damage.

Minnesota DNR surveys show that about half of the vehicles that visit parks overnight have firewood on board. Quinn said 105,500 vehicles entered parks and forests for overnight visits in 2005, meaning about 50,000 or so brought wood.

Campers bring their own firewood to save money and ensure that they'll have something to burn even if there's no wood at the campsite, or the wood there is wet.