Not all learning happens in the classroom. The year was 2024, and I was on a camping trip with some friends. Unfortunately for us, we had run out of firewood and needed to find more. Wanting to take the cheap route, we opted to scavenge the forest of Mont-Tremblant National Park. Because of where we were, there was no shortage of wood available to us, and in a mere matter of minutes, the four of us had managed to get enough wood to start and feed a fire. However, we were soon to be scolded by two disappointed park rangers on their evening campsite checks. They told us that we had to return the wood back to the forest and instead purchase pre-bundled firewood at the check-in building. Why? Because we were about to burn some homes.
The Logs of Life
Before we dive in, it is useful to familiar ourselves with some forest ecology terminology. For the purpose of our story, we will need to know snags and logs. A snag is a standing dead tree, whereas a log is a snag that has fallen to the forest floor. Despite not looking like all that much, snags and logs have a large role to play in forest management. From providing homes to burrowing beetles, to fungi spores, and even roosting bats – these dead trees are often the very key to survival for many forest species. According to National Geographic, in the U.S., more than 1,200 wildlife species rely on dead (or dying) trees for shelter and sustenance.
Dead wood also has a role to play in the environmental composition of the forest. From protecting against soil erosion and improving soil water retention, to opening up pockets in forest cover for sunlight to penetrate – logs and snags are essential. Additionally, as these trees decompose, they release carbon and nitrogen back into the soil, allowing for nutrient recycling which in turn supports plant growth. While during decomposition, some of the carbon is released into the air, the remains that go back into the soil help improve soil health, supporting the livelihoods of microbes, insects, and other trees. They also play a significant role in carbon sequestration. This is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide.
While the log you pick for your fire may not look like a lot, it plays an essential role in the greater forest ecosystem. Of course, while picking the occasional perfect s’mores stick is likely harmless, steer clear of collecting your own firewood in the forest. If you take one log, it is unlikely to do much, however, if everyone were to do the same – the forest composition would look a lot different.
Uninvited Hitchhikers
The solution here is to bring your own firewood when camping. But even in this case, you must be careful about how to do this. Because firewood is so full of life (despite it being dead), the wood you bring may be home to an organism that could infect the ecosystem to which you are bringing it. Therefore, it is important to purchase firewood from the park you are camping at, or from the local community. An attempt at being efficient with your wood acquisition just may disrupt a whole ecosystem if you are not careful.
According to the U.S. National Park Service, the firewood brought to your campsite should be sourced from as close to your campsite as possible, ideally within 10 miles (16 kilometers), and certainly not farther than 80 kilometers.
The same rule applies for when you are leaving the campsite. While it may seem plausible to bring leftover firewood home with you – don’t. Be a good samaritan and leave it for the next batch of campers. Just as you may bring pests into the campsite with foreign wood, you can do the same with bringing wood from your campsite. An insect or fungus that is safe in one place could become an invasive species in another.
Camping is a time to connect with nature and enjoy the beauty of the Earth. Being smart about where you get your firewood, as well as how your treat the forest that you call home for however many days is the key to a good trip. While it may seem like you are doing the “right” thing by using forest shrubs to make your dinner, it’s a better idea to buy your materials at from the campsite store. Happy camping!
Eva Kellner is a recent graduate from the Faculty of Arts and Science, with a major in Environment. Her research interests include urban green spaces, urban agriculture, and outdoor community spaces - all as promoters of climate resilience among city-dwellers.
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