Audience Outreach Chart

A Quick and Useful Resource

To address the risk of interstate forest pest movement on firewood, APHIS worked with state, federal, industry, and private sector organizations to coordinate regulatory, voluntary and outreach strategies to help limit the inadvertent spread of forest pests. Through the National Firewood Task Force, APHIS, the National Plant Board, National Association of State Foresters, U.S. Forest Service, and the National Parks Service developed a set of recommendations for State and Tribal officials to help combat this threat. These recommendations were published in 2010.The National Plant Board’s Firewood Work Group used these recommendations as a foundation for further suggestions about regulating the firewood pathway, use of best management practices, and outreach activities. The Audience Outreach chart within the National Firewood Task Force was viewed as comprehensive in establishing audiences, types of venues, and messages for firewood outreach. The entirety of the 2010 National Firewood Task Force recommendations is also available here.

AudienceMethod of OutreachDon’t Move Firewood MessagePoint of Contact
Air Travelers to High Risk AreasAirport public service announcements (those seen in baggage claims) in high risk areas“Going Camping? Going to have a campfire? Buy your firewood where you’re going to burn it!” Why? Firewood may carry dangerous forest pests that could destroy the forestAmerican Association of Airport Executives
Big Box Retailers selling firewood and/or fire pitsPSAs in areas of stores selling firewood/fire pits“Getting ready to use the fireplace? Be sure your firewood is from local sources.” Why? Firewood may carry dangerous forest pests that could destroy the forestNational Retail Hardware Association
CampersCampground websites
DNR websites; campers’ organization websites
“Going Camping? Going to have a campfire? Buy your firewood where you’re going to burn it. Don’t bring wood from home!” Why? Firewood may carry dangerous forest pests that could destroy the forestNational Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds; National Recreation Reservation Center (NRRC); State Campground Authorities; Woodall’s Camping and RV Guide
Campground OperatorsOutreach to campground operators through industry groups to put messaging on campground websites“Going Camping? Going to have a campfire? Buy your firewood where you’re going to burn it. Don’t bring wood from home!” Why? Firewood may carry dangerous forest pests that could destroy the forestNational Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds; NRRC; State Campground Authorities
Construction/Clearing/Clean- up companies/ ArboristsOutreach to tree care professionals through industry groups“Got wood residue from a job? Going to sell it as firewood? Don’t! It’s not worth the risk to your industry- tree pests could be inside!”Tree Care Industry Association
International Society of Arboriculture
Outdoor Equipment rental centers (log splitters, etc.)Placement of “Don’t move firewood” brochures in rental centers and stickers for equipment“Going to split some wood? Burn it near where you split it- That wood may contain invasive tree pests that could be spread with the movement of the wood”American Rental Association
Fall Tourism websitesWebsite banner ads“Going to look at the leaves this fall? Help ensure they’re here next year- Don’t bring firewood with you”
“Firewood may carry dangerous forest pests that could destroy the forest.”
U.S. Travel Association
State and National Tourist Bureaus and Chambers of Commerce
Furniture and other Wood Processors (scrap wood)Outreach to manufacturers:
Tags, or stickers attached to products and banners on store/manufacturers’ websites
Got scrap wood? Going to sell it as firewood? Don’t! It’s not worth the risk to your industry- tree pests could be inside!”
“The wood used to make this furniture comes from forests that are in danger of being destroyed by invasive forest pests commonly carried in firewood. Don’t Move Firewood!”
Wood Product Manufacturers Association;
Hardwood Federation
Future Farmers of America/4HConservation educationInvasive agents in firewood destroy range, forests, etc.Future Farmers of America/4H
Local and National Firewood Dealers and ProducersSelf-Certification System; Permit systems. Place informative literature within permit or certificationDon’t lose your National Heritage. Follow firewood rules as designed by your state agriculture department, etc.
Sell firewood where you get it! Encourage customers to burn it locally. Otherwise, there may not be any firewood left.
National Retail Federation
Gas Station / Convenient StoresGas pump videosLeave your firewood at home. Buy from local sources instead.National Association of Convenience Stores
Hardwood FederationAnnual MeetingsKeep the hardwood trees healthy!
HomeownersTV, radio, billboards, newspapers, magazines, store bags (grocery, retail, etc.), school brochuresPests in firewood could kill your landscape trees and your neighbor’s trees and thus lower your property values
Variation of above: Pests in firewood could kill your neighborhood trees and thus lower your property values.
News Media
HuntersLiterature placed with LicenseProtect your National Heritage. Invasive insects in firewood will destroy crucial wildlife habitat.DNR License Agents
Local Park and Forestry DepartmentsPlacard in park barbeque areas?Protect your forest/park! Don’t allow visitors to bring firewood. Encourage local use.National Recreation and Park Association
Logging companiesTrade journal articlesGot scrap wood? Going to sell it as firewood? Don’t! It’s not worth the risk to your industry- tree pests could be inside!”American Forest and Paper Association; Michigan Association of Timbermen
NurseriesTrade journal articlesKeep your nursery stock pest free! Don’t move firewood from more than 50 miles away.American Horticultural Society
American Nursery and Landscape Assoc.
Outdoor Equipment ManufacturersTrade journal articlesBurn it where you cut it.Outdoor Power Equipment Institute
Outdoor-type Stores (REI, LL Bean, Outdoor World, etc.)Trade journal articles, T-shirts; Caps; etc.“Going Camping? Going to have a campfire? Buy your firewood where you’re going to burn it!”Outdoor Industry Association
Railway CompaniesPSA on rail cars?Move the goods not the hitchhikers. Don’t move firewood with hitchhiking pests.Association of American Railroads
US DOT
Realtors (those that focus on vacation homes)Brochures; Annual MeetingsSave the trees and protect home values! Encourage current and former clients to use only local firewood.Nat’l Assoc. of Realtors
RV AssociationsTrade Shows/ Industry PublicationsProtect your National Heritage. Firewood may carry insects and pathogens that kill trees. Protect your campgrounds, fishing spots, etc.Nat’l RV Dealers Association; Woodall’s
RV ManufacturersTrade Shows/ Industry PublicationsSame as aboveRecreation Vehicle Industry Association
Saw millsTrade Shows; Industry PublicationsGot scrap wood? Going to sell it as firewood? Don’t! It’s not worth the risk to your industry- tree pests could be inside!”American Forest and Paper Association;
State Timber Associations
SchoolsSchool curriculums
Work with marshmallow companies?
Protect the trees! Use local firewood to toast your s’mores!North American Association for Environmental Education; Dept. of Education?
ScoutsNational heritage message: ‘Trees are a treasure” Marshmallow Company PSAs
Firewood Badge/Merit Badge
Protect the trees! Use local firewood to toast your s’mores!BSA-probably start with a local council
State Agriculture DepartmentsPrinted brochures and fact sheetsProtect your state resources. Encourage the use of local firewood.NPB, NASDA
USDA
State Forestry DepartmentsPrinted brochures and fact sheetsProtect your forest! Don’t allow visitors to bring firewood. Encourage local use.President of group
USDA
Watershed managersAnnual MeetingsProtect your watershed! Only allow local firewood or else you may reduce your water quality when the trees are gone.States
“Friends of” groups
MunicipalitiesWebsites and literatureProtect park, street, and private trees; save your property values, tree canopies, energy gainsNational League of Cities; International City/County Management Association
Communications Officers of State Departments of AgricultureAnnual Meeting, Conference CallsWork with COSDA to deliver various messages to the audiences listed on this chart / Develop and share online repository of firewood outreach materialsCOSDA President
Master Gardeners/ NaturalistEducation, literature, handout materialInvasive agents in firewood destroy range, forests, ecosystems
Outdoor Sports MagazinesPSA, inserts, websites
International Society of ArboristsSeminars, material, certification programs
Arbor Day FoundationSeminars, material, certification programs
Non-Industrial Private Landowners (NIPL)Direct contacts (consultants, NRCS, DNR Stewardship, etc.)
Websites, literature, meeting, farm radio, news media, etc.
Cut and market dead wood carefully to avoid spreading dangerous pests
Don’t move firewood long distances; it might contain dangerous pests.
NRCS, DNR Stewardship, Dept. of Ag.
Consulting foresters, University Extension Agents, Farm Bureau, and State Forestry Associations.