Forests are being destroyed through the transport of invasive insects and diseases inside firewood. To prevent the spread of pests that destroy forests, do not move firewood far from where it is cut. Instead, obtain it from local sources. Burn firewood in the same general area as the wood source. As a general rule, 10 miles or less is best unless it has been heat treated.

Did You Know?:

Untreated firewood can legally enter Oregon from out of state only if it’s from Washington or Idaho. If it’s from anywhere else, firewood must be labeled as heat-treated to enter Oregon.

What You Can Do to Help:

Buy or gather firewood locally to prevent the spread of pests. As a rule of thumb, moving firewood no more than 10 miles from where it is cut is best. Some parts of Oregon have quarantines that prohibit the movement of firewood, because of pests and diseases like emerald ash borer, sudden oak death, and Dutch elm disease. For example, five northwest Oregon counties - Clackamas, Marion, Multnomah, Washington and Yamhill are under state quarantine that prohibits the movement of all untreated firewood from hardwood trees. Under Oregon state law, only firewood labeled as heat-treated is allowed from beyond Washington and Idaho. Encourage out-of-state visitors and firewood sellers to learn more about firewood regulations.

For more information, contact Don’t Move Firewood:

https://www.dontmovefirewood.org/contact/

The Medford-based non-profit Oregon Stewardship has been named Organization of the Year by Oregon Community Trees (OCT). Each year Oregon Community Trees honors one organization in the state for outstanding work to engage Oregonians in caring for their urban forests and natural areas. This year’s recipient, Oregon Stewardship, works with schooldistricts and teachers on watershed projects involving students in Jackson, Josephine, Curry, and Coos counties. Oregon Stewardship leads students on hands on projects neartheir schools. On these projects they can plant trees and gardens and create nature trails. Students design and build the trails, create an informational brochure, and place signs along the trails. Projects that students create are maintained in following years by later students at the same school. High school students mentor younger students on nature hikesand field trips, helping them with art or writing classes associated with the projects. High school students that work with Oregon Stewardship are eligible for scholarships for college or vocational education.

Oregon Stewardship’s focus is watershed, including:

• River, stream and forest ecosystems
• The ecological cycles and functions that sustain these ecosystems
• Indicators of ecosystem health, such as salmon

An example of a recent project was the planting in 2024 by South Medford High School students of 180 native plants next to the Panther Pride Trail along fire-ravaged Bear Creek in Medford. Jim Gersbach, President of Oregon Community Trees, said his organization wanted to honor Oregon Stewardship for the work they do to encourage
the community to provide stewardship for Oregon’s land. “They do a great job creating opportunities for students and adults to participate in grassroots care for our environment. At the same time, they are helping young people learn about and practice environmental restoration and gain leadership skills,” said Gersbach.

Portland filmmaker David Hedberg has completed work on a documentary capturing the effort that led to four dozen Hiroshima peace trees being planted in Oregon. In the film, he shows the trees' meaning, the homes they've found around the state, and the people whose lives they've touched. Hedberg will screen the documentary at a number of film festivals, with community showings planned in latter half of 2026.