Great Smoky Mountains National Park Changes Firewood Rules To Protect Forests

Posted by Jeff on Jan 9, 2015 @ 8:25 am in Conservation | 0 comments | Last modified: January 9, 2015

In a further step to help protect the forests of Great Smoky Mountains National Park from non-native insect pests, park officials beginning in March will only allow heat-treated firewood that has been certified by the USDA or a state agriculture department, and dead and down wood collected from the park’s forests, to be used in campgrounds.

Heat-treated firewood will be available to purchase from concessioners in many of the campgrounds as well as from private businesses in the communities around the park. Certified heat-treated firewood is packaged in 0.75 cu-ft. bundles clearly displaying a certification stamp. The wood is a high-quality hardwood product that has been heated for 60 minutes at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The wood lights easily, burns well for campfires, is safe to cook over, and is already available at over 85 locations near the park.

Non-native, tree-killing insects and diseases can unknowingly be introduced through firewood transported from infested areas. A variety of destructive pests lay eggs or stowaway in firewood. These insects from Asia and Europe have the potential to devastate more than 30 species of hardwood trees native to the park. New infestations threaten the forests with widespread tree mortality that could devastate wildlife habitat, biodiversity, and scenic views, a park release said. The use of firewood that has been heat-treated eliminates the threat posed by these pests through the movement and use of wood in campfires.

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