Firewood Movement and the Emerald Ash Borer: July 2009 Update

Dovetail Partners Inc. released an April 2008 report on Firewood Movement and the Emerald Ash Borer. Since the release of this report, the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has been confirmed in six additional states. In addition to Michigan, Ohio, Maryland, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, EAB is now established in Wisconsin, Missouri and Virginia (summer 2008), and Minnesota, Kentucky and New York (spring 2009). It is also in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, Canada.

As noted in the April 2008 report, EAB is having far reaching consequences for rural and urban forest managers, owners and users. Because the rapid spread of EAB in the U.S. has been linked to the movement of firewood from infested to non-infested areas, the consequences to firewood producers, marketers, and users are significant. This brief update highlights recent developments as it pertains to EAB and firewood movement.