Firewood News

Good afternoon, State Plant Health Directors and State Plant Regulatory Officials!

The USDA APHIS Hungry Pests initiative is partnering with the Don’t Move Firewood campaign to run the first-ever Firewood Awareness Month in October 2016. The primary goal is to raise public awareness about firewood movement as a forest pest and disease pathway. The timing is strategic, as October is a month that brings a visceral reminder that home heating season is coming, with colder temperatures in most of the U.S, as well as travel for hunting. Firewood Awareness Month is intentionally not species-centric—it is a focus on a critical pathway - and it offers a chance to reach target audiences who pose the greatest risk for moving firewood in the fall season. Please help get the word out:

1. Promote the USDA blog article to your local media and to your partners.
2. Talk it up in your regional stakeholder meetings, at public talks, and on community boards.
3. Share the attached Firewood Awareness Month Stakeholder Toolkit with your nonprofit, university, industry, and other partners to encourage them to spread the message through their social media and other interactions.

It’s easy! Just copy and paste the note below and send it with the attached Stakeholder Toolkit. Please contact Abbey Powell (abbey.powell@aphis.usda.gov) if you have any questions. Thank you for promoting Firewood Awareness Month!