The Firewood Problem

Miller, Bettye. 2011. "Firewood Movement Leading Cause of Oak Infestation." UCR Today. Regents of the University of California. September 2.

When I lived in Orlando, Florida for a short time, I spent time in the county parks, admiring the live oak trees. The massive canopies of these oaks stretched out impressively, their long branches held curtains of spanish moss that would sway in the slight breezes. When running around a pond closer to Orlando, I came across one live oak whose branch sloped down to the ground, then continued to grow underground for 10 feet before popping up again full of leaves. They are remarkable trees.

So this article from the University of California caught my eye. The area is facing a similar problem with borers, except they are worried about the gold spotted oak borer and the oak trees in San Diego. Miller mentions that the borer destroyed 80,000 oak trees since researchers found it in 2000. 

Eighty thousand seems like a staggering number. In context, here's what a natural resource specialist said about the numbers.

This may be the biggest oak mortality event since the Pleistocene (12,000 years ago) ... If we can keep firewood from moving out of the region, we may be able to stop one of the biggest invasive pests to reach California in a long time.

In research conducted recently, studies found that the beetle moved primarily through the transportation of firewood. And because the firewood industry is only loosely regulated, the article points to engaging the public as the main resource to save the trees, many of which are upwards of 250 years old.

From University of California, Riverside
Dead oaks trees line a California valley.