KESHENA, WI (WTAQ)- The Menominee Indian Tribe is looking to take legal measures to protect their black ash trees.
“The longer we can keep these things out of our forests, the better off we are.”
Tribal Chairman Douglas Cox says the Tribal Legislature is looking into a law that would prevent wood and wood products from being transported onto tribal lands from outside locations.
“We will enact a tribal law that will prevent any wood product from coming into the reservation.”
This law is a response to the state lifting all restrctions of transporting wood from county to county after a state wide discovery of Emerald Ash Borer.
Cox says they do not have EAB in their forests, and they having it damage their ash trees would have negative results.
“We have quite a few ash basket makers here, and the sole species that we use for that is black ash.”
He says it is important to protect their black ash for historical and economical reasons.
“Let’s be cautious on how we move wood and other products so we can preserve that part of our culture and our industry honestly.”
Cox says if the law is passed, they will be able to amend it if they need to, but for the most part, it will be in place for much of the foreseeable future.
“We are going to make it a permanent ordinance. It will be on the books.”
The Tribal legislature plans to hold a public hearing if the legislation is passed.
