OTTAWA, June 9, 2011: During Canadian Environment Week, the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency (CFIA) wants to remind Canadians about one simple thing they
can do to help preserve our forests from invasive species such as harmful
insects: don't move firewood.

Unseen pests hide in the bark of firewood. By moving just one piece of
firewood, pests can spread and eventually destroy millions of trees. Don't
move firewood. Buy and burn local firewood only.

One pest that is moved in firewood is the emerald ash borer . The
emerald ash borer came from eastern Asia and was first discovered in Detroit,
Michigan in 2002. Since 2002, the emerald ash borer has destroyed millions of
ash trees in Canada and the United States. In nature this pest only moves a few
kilometres a year, but humans have helped it travel hundreds of kilometres
aboard wood products such as firewood.

“While plant pests can be difficult to eliminate, we can help slow
their spread by not moving firewood,” says Greg Stubbings, Chief Plant
Health Officer for Canada, “Preserving our forests is one of the best
ways to protect Canada's environment and economy.”

June 5 to 11, 2011, is Canadian Environment Week and this year's theme
is Preserving our Forests, Protecting our Future . Canadian Environment
Week is always the first week in June, to coincide with World Environment Day
(June 5). What better way to celebrate our environment than to help save our
trees. The United Nations has declared 2011 International Year of
Forests .

Learn more about why you
should not move firewood and how you can help preserve Canada's natural
resources.

For media inquiries

Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Media relations: 613-773-6600

Additional information:

Canadian Environment Week

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