collaborative messaging for firewood in the southern...
TRANSCRIPT
Collaborative Messaging for Firewood in the Southern Region
November 30, 2011
¡ the perceived condition of a forest derived from concerns about such factors as its § age, § structure, § composition, § function, § vigor, § presence of unusual levels of insects or disease, and § resilience to disturbance
Dictionary of Forestry, Society of American Foresters
¡ perception and interpretation of forest health are influenced by § individual and cultural viewpoints, § land management objectives, § spatial and temporal scales, § the relative health of the stands that comprise the
forest, and § the appearance of the forest at a point in time
Dictionary of Forestry, Society of American Foresters
Wildfire Southern Pine Beetle Gypsy Moth Cogongrass
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
Chestnut blight
Emerald Ash Borer
Thousand Cankers Disease
Deadlier than Dutch Elm: U.S. trees stricken by a plague of ash borers TIME May 25, 2011 Bug 1, Tree 0: Most of Toronto's ash trees expected to die by 2017 The Star June 9, 2011 Ash borer puts hole in Yorkville's budget The Beacon News June 29, 2011 650 vehicles halted in firewood check Rome Sentinel July 11, 2011 Ash borer tree replacement program established in Libertyville News-Sun July 15, 2011 Emerald ash borer will cost Rockford about $10.1 million Rockford Register July 29, 2011 NC awaits onslaught of tree-killing pest WRAL Aug. 17, 2011
¡ Firewood is a raw forest product that is widely utilized and moved throughout the United States with relatively limited consideration of the potential pests within or the associated risks.
USDA APHIS. 2011. Risk Assessment of the Movement of Firewood within the United States
¡ The United States requires treatment of all imported firewood, with a few exceptions from Canada and Mexico.
¡ Regulations prohibiting the domestic movement of firewood are already justified and in place for several states based on existing exotic forest pests.
¡ Firewood readily moves commercially and privately throughout the United States.
¡ Urban forests are particularly susceptible.
USDA APHIS. 2011. Risk Assessment of the Movement of Firewood within the United States
¡ High diversity and coverage of forests in the United States. ¡ The value of the economic resources in the
United States at risk if exotic or native forest pests are spread to additional areas is very high. ¡ High regulatory costs of forest pest
management.
USDA APHIS. 2011. Risk Assessment of the Movement of Firewood within the United States
¡ Emerald Ash Borer - all ash species
¡ Thousand Cankers Disease – walnut (eastern black walnut is most susceptible)
¡ Hemlock woolly adelgid - hemlock
¡ Gypsy moth – many hosts including oak, basswood, birch, poplar, alder, willow, hemlock, and pine
¡ Asian long horned beetle – maples, birches, ash, sycamore, poplar, willow, elm, hackberry, others
¡ Sirex woodwasp - pines
¡ Oak wilt – oaks, especially red oaks
¡ Redbay ambrosia beetle – red bay, sassafras, spicebush
KY state parks implements firewood ban Central KY news – KY Mar. 22, 2007 Minnesota bans bringing firewood to state parks, forests Northland Outdoors – MN June 12, 2009 650 vehicles halted in firewood check Rome Sentinel - NY July 11, 2011 Great Smoky park tightens restrictions on firewood Blue Ridge News - TN July 26, 2011 New Oregon law targets imported firewood WTVZ – OR Oct. 19, 2011 Locally Cut Firewood Can Prevent the Spread of Invasive Pests and Create Substantial Savings For Communities PR Newswire - VA Nov. 7, 2011 Hunters Reminded of Firewood Restrictions as Annual Gun Deer Season Approaches Pierce County Herald - WI Nov. 10, 2011
¡ Who: § National Plant Board, USDA Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service, US Forest Service, National Association of State Foresters and the US Department of Interior National Park Service
¡ What: § Develop a coordinated response to address
outreach, voluntary and regulatory aspects of firewood movement at a national level.
¡ Task Force Goal: To recommend the most effective, least intrusive and most cost-effective combination of actions to mitigate the pest and disease risks posed by people moving firewood.
¡ Outreach Strategies: § State and Federal agencies should convene a
communications steering committee. § Develop an online hub of firewood outreach
materials. § Prioritize the outreach activities. § Use diverse methods to get consistent messages
out about the risk of moving firewood. § Support the voluntary and regulatory efforts.
¡ This plan will focus the efforts of 12 southern states toward implementing the public outreach recommendations of the NFTF. ¡ States: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas
¡ Sharing technical expertise and coordinating communications on a larger scale will provide a greater bandwidth of information to target audiences and specific sectors within the region and on a state-by-state basis. ¡ The plan follows a regional approach, but
individual state activities can be devised to compliment regional strategies and tactics.
¡ The end goal is to build a public relations agenda around existing resources to educate targeted audiences on the possible outcomes of moving firewood and encourage modified behaviors to mitigate those possible outcomes.
¡ This ongoing effort will provide target audiences with meaningful information that helps them understand forest health, the impact of transporting firewood on the health of forests, and how they should rethink their attitudes and actions as they relate to this issue.
¡ Communications Strategy § Work through existing resources (NFTF
Recommendations, Promise, Don’t Move Firewood, research from TNC and OSU) to develop clear, consistent outreach materials designed to educate target audiences about the risk firewood can pose. § coordinate display and distribution of outreach
materials regionally to ensure maximum exposure throughout participating states.
¡ Product: (intangible idea) § Non-native pests transported in firewood can harm our forests. § Buying firewood locally is best for the environment.
¡ Price: § Protect the forests that you enjoy camping in today so that your
children and grand children can enjoy them tomorrow. ¡ Place: § Online help § Camp sites § Camping products retailers
¡ Promotion: § Media advocacy with policy makers § Camping associations/organizations § Advocacy with campers
¡ Publics: § Camping associations/organizations § Campground managers § Manufacturers of camping gear § Campers
¡ Partnerships: § Public and private partnerships to change environment, encourage
early adopters and to change beliefs, attitudes and behaviors of campers.
¡ Policy: § Encourage firewood consumers to spread the message (friends,
family, community) ¡ Provisions: § The long-term success of this program will be contingent on ample
funding sources to provide for staffing and program implementation.
¡ TNC’s research found that voters are most receptive to messages related to quality of life and prevention.
¡ Use constructive suggestions rather than tell them what not to do.
¡ In post-campaign reviews, PNW collaborators suggested that the slogans were more impactful when followed by more details to answer the questions of how and what.
¡ Here are some simple steps you can take to avoid moving invasive pests in firewood: § Buy it at your destination and only purchase local or
certified (treated) firewood. Many recreational areas have firewood for sale. Inquire when you make your reservations. § Ask questions about the firewood you purchase—
where did it come from? Always buy firewood that was cut locally. § When you do purchase firewood at your destination,
burn it all—don't take it back home with you.
• Online hub of forest health info and materials (NFTF recommendation) • Public information and education on forest health, and how homeowners/landowners can be active in maintaining forest health. • Readily available materials for partners (conference materials, action plans, forms, contacts, links) • Resources (fact sheets, maps, image gallery, outreach materials, videos/webinars, links)
Contact
Tim Phelps Information & Education Program Specialist Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (o) 615-837-5543 (c) 615-428-5913 [email protected]