October is National Firewood Month (yes, it’s a real thing), so the Department of Natural Resources is encouraging people to only buy firewood where they plan to burn it. The Buy Local, Burn Local campaign is aimed at preventing the spread of invasive species that can lurk in firewood like the spongy moth, Asian longhorned beetle, emerald ash borer and other pests and diseases that can hurt our trees. Time is running out for Congress to renew the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The federal program provides key funding to protect and restore our Great Lakes, but the Senate is set to adjourn without reauthorizing the legislation. The Great Lakes are the largest system of fresh surface water on Earth. For a deep dive into Wisconsin’s most pressing environmental issues, check out my Defender podcast. Listen at cleanwisconsin.org or wherever you get your podcasts.