In The Buffalo News (NY) a recent article described with a pretty balanced hand the different aspects of the firewood regulations in NY.
One of the big issues with firewood is that it is a largely unregulated product. Without a centralized authority, the ability to control its movement is pretty low. The new regulations put in place by the NY Department of Environmental Conservation are fairly strict, but in light of severity of the threat, I think they are fair.
In The Buffalo News (NY) a recent article described with a pretty balanced hand the different aspects of the firewood regulations in NY. Here's a quick excerpt:
Hearth-warming fireplace logs that brighten winter nights are a high-risk host for pests, according to the DEC.
Alien species are being introduced more easily as a consequence of global trade. “They’re hiding out in packing materials, but they don’t stay there,” DEC spokeswoman Maureen Wren said. Pests migrate to forested areas, where they can spread quickly in the absence of natural predators.
“The primary goal is to protect our forestry resources. So it’s in everybody’s interest,” she said of shipping rules.
That's right. Even if firewood suppliers are frustrated by the ban, it is hard to argue with the logic that destroying New York's forests with pests is somehow preferable. While that seems abstract, it is of course what is being faced in pockets all around North America.
Comments
Post new comment