Task Forces
California Firewood Task Force
The California Firewood Task Force initiates and facilitates efforts within the state to protect our native and urban forests from invasive pests that can be moved on firewood. The 'Buy It Where You Burn it' campaign promotes buying locally sourced wood near the location where it will be used and not moving it from location to location.
Co-Chaired by Curtis Ewing: curtis.ewing@fire.ca.gov and Randall Oliver: rdoliver@ucanr.edu
California Oak Mortality Task Force
The California Oak Mortality Task Force (COMTF) is a non-profit group working to manage Sudden Oak Death in California. COMTF was formed in August 2000 by merging the efforts of two separate state organizations: The California Forest Pest Council (CFPC) and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF). The resulting Task Force is a consensus-driven coalition of research/educational institutions, public agencies, non-profit organizations, and private interests. Its primary purpose is to coordinate research, management, monitoring, education, and public policy efforts addressing elevated levels of oak mortality in California resulting from Sudden Oak Death (SOD). As we learn more about P. ramorum, our concern has broadened to include the other diseases it causes
Chaired by Chris Lee: christopher.lee@fire.ca.gov
Pitch Canker Task Force
The Pitch Canker Task Force is a non-profit group working to manage the invasive fungus Fusarium circinatum (cause of pitch canker) in California. Its primary purpose is to coordinate research, management, monitoring, education, and public policy efforts impacting nearly 20 conifers, including Monterey and Bishop pines.