Please, please, please if you are coming to visit this beautiful state of New Hampshire, leave your firewood at home! The state of New Hampshire and the White Mountains National Forest Campgrounds no longer allow firewood to be brought in from out of state, unless it is kiln-dried wood in its original package with label in place. This drastic, but necessary measure has been taken due to a very destructive and invasive insect – the Asian long horned beetle. This beetle thought to have been transported here from China via wooden shipping pallets, first showed up in Brooklyn, New York in 1996. In August of 2008, the beetles were discovered a bit closer to home, in Worcester, Massachusetts.   Asian long horned beetles prefer maple trees, although they have infected others such as birch, ash, poplar, elm, willow and more. Maples play an integral role in NH. Not only do they provide some of the finest, sweetest maple syrup, but they offer the spectacular array of colors in fall which drive tourists to our state in droves -tourism that helps provide economic stability to businesses throughout the state. Other nearby states understand the severity of this threat. Connecticut, Maine and Vermont are among states that have declared August, Asian long horned beetle awareness month. New Hampshire is hosting two separate awareness workshops, one in Manchester and one in Portsmouth. Click here for more details.   There is currently no cure, except to cut the infected trees down, chip and burn them. This could certainly be devastating to New Hampshire forests. Please be considerate, help us protect our forests - leave your firewood at home!