Playing with Fire Playing with Fire Forest Management in AmericaForest Management in America

Megan WestMegan West

Topics in Political TheoryTopics in Political Theory

Spring 2005Spring 2005

The ProblemThe Problem 2000 was 22000 was 2ndnd Worst Fire Worst Fire

Season in HistorySeason in History 17 Deaths17 Deaths Cost over $2 BillionCost over $2 Billion 8.4 Million Acres Burned8.4 Million Acres Burned

In just 4 years, 24 million In just 4 years, 24 million tons of Carbon Dioxide and tons of Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxides were Nitrogen Oxides were emitted from wildfiresemitted from wildfires

Minimal improvement over Minimal improvement over last ten fire seasonslast ten fire seasons

MismanagementMismanagement Hazardous Fuels Hazardous Fuels Growing Wildland/Urban Growing Wildland/Urban

InterfaceInterface

Ineffective LegislationIneffective Legislation Focus on the wrong type of Focus on the wrong type of

Fuels ReductionFuels Reduction Focus on RehabilitationFocus on Rehabilitation Lack of FundingLack of Funding

DefinitionsDefinitions Wildland Fire:Wildland Fire: Any non-structure fire that occurs Any non-structure fire that occurs

in the wildlandin the wildland Wildfire: Wildfire: An unplanned, unwanted wildland fireAn unplanned, unwanted wildland fire Prescribed Fire: Prescribed Fire: Any fire ignited by management actions to Any fire ignited by management actions to

meet specific objectivesmeet specific objectives Wildland Fire Use: Wildland Fire Use: The application of the appropriate The application of the appropriate

management response to naturally ignited management response to naturally ignited wildland fireswildland fires

Wildland/Urban Interface: Wildland/Urban Interface: Area where there is one home per 40 acres Area where there is one home per 40 acres Less than 1.5 miles from wooded area exceeding 1,325 acresLess than 1.5 miles from wooded area exceeding 1,325 acres Excludes agricultureExcludes agriculture

Wildland/Urban Intermix:Wildland/Urban Intermix: Area composed of at least 50% burnable vegetationArea composed of at least 50% burnable vegetation Excludes agricultureExcludes agriculture

Source: National Fire and Aviation Executive BoardSource: National Fire and Aviation Executive Board

Wildland/Urban Interface in the Wildland/Urban Interface in the NorthwestNorthwest

California California 41.7% of land qualifies as wildland/urban interface41.7% of land qualifies as wildland/urban interface

OregonOregon 42.8% of land qualifies as wildland/urban interface42.8% of land qualifies as wildland/urban interface

WashingtonWashington 49.2% of land qualifies as wildland/urban interface49.2% of land qualifies as wildland/urban interface

Total WUI for region in 1990: 11,842,572 acresTotal WUI for region in 1990: 11,842,572 acres Total WUI for region in 2000: 13,153,174 acresTotal WUI for region in 2000: 13,153,174 acres

http://silvis.forest.wisc.edu/info.asphttp://silvis.forest.wisc.edu/info.asp

Brief HistoryBrief History Proactive forest management has Proactive forest management has

been very controversialbeen very controversial Thought to be bad for the Thought to be bad for the

environmentenvironment Clearing thick areas is actually Clearing thick areas is actually

promoting healthpromoting health Ecological rotationEcological rotation

Time frame and scaleTime frame and scale Sustainability depends on time Sustainability depends on time

frameframe Sustainability also depends on Sustainability also depends on

scalescale

Source: http://silvis.forest.wisc.edu/info.aspSource: http://silvis.forest.wisc.edu/info.asp

Federal Wildland Fire PolicyFederal Wildland Fire Policy Passed in 1995 in response to 1994 fire seasonPassed in 1995 in response to 1994 fire season Eight Points:Eight Points:

Protection of human life is the first priority Protection of human life is the first priority Wildland fire must be reintroduced into the ecosystemWildland fire must be reintroduced into the ecosystem Agencies will create an organizational climate that supports employees Agencies will create an organizational climate that supports employees

who implement a properly planned program to reintroduce wildland who implement a properly planned program to reintroduce wildland firefire

Some for of pretreatment where wildland fire cannot be safely Some for of pretreatment where wildland fire cannot be safely reintroducedreintroduced

All areas with burnable vegetation will have Fire Management PlanAll areas with burnable vegetation will have Fire Management Plan Wildland fire management and resource management go hand in handWildland fire management and resource management go hand in hand Involvement of all partnersInvolvement of all partners Role of federal agencies is firefighting, fuels reduction, education, and Role of federal agencies is firefighting, fuels reduction, education, and

technical assistancetechnical assistance

Source: http://www.fs.fed.us/land/wdfirex.htmSource: http://www.fs.fed.us/land/wdfirex.htm

National Fire PlanNational Fire Plan

Passed in August of 2000 Passed in August of 2000 ObjectivesObjectives

Assuring that necessary firefighting resources are availableAssuring that necessary firefighting resources are available Conducting emergency stabilization and rehabilitaionConducting emergency stabilization and rehabilitaion Reducing hazardous fuelsReducing hazardous fuels Providing assistance to communities affected by wildland Providing assistance to communities affected by wildland

firefire Committing to the Wildland Fire Leadership CouncilCommitting to the Wildland Fire Leadership Council

Source: http://www.fireplan.gov/overview/whatis.htmlSource: http://www.fireplan.gov/overview/whatis.html

Healthy Forests Restoration Act of Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 20032003

ObjectivesObjectives Reduce dense undergrowth through thinning and prescribed Reduce dense undergrowth through thinning and prescribed

burnsburns Improve public involvement in review processImprove public involvement in review process Select projects on a collaborative basisSelect projects on a collaborative basis Focus projects on Federal lands that meet strict criteria for Focus projects on Federal lands that meet strict criteria for

risk of wildfire damage to communitiesrisk of wildfire damage to communities Authorize the Healthy Forests Reserve Program for private Authorize the Healthy Forests Reserve Program for private

landslands Encourage biomass energy productionEncourage biomass energy production Develop accelerated program to combat insect infestationsDevelop accelerated program to combat insect infestations

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/healthyforests/restor-act-pg2.htmlSource: http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/healthyforests/restor-act-pg2.html

Prescribed FirePrescribed Fire

BenefitsBenefits Effectively reduces hazardous Effectively reduces hazardous

fuelsfuels Immulates natural processImmulates natural process

CostsCosts Risk to firefighters and others Risk to firefighters and others

in the areain the area Dependent on weather and Dependent on weather and

fire danger ratingfire danger rating Clears entire areaClears entire area Emissions of carbon dioxide Emissions of carbon dioxide

and nitrogen oxidesand nitrogen oxides Some soil nutrients lostSome soil nutrients lost

Prescribed Fire Gone WrongPrescribed Fire Gone Wrong In 2000, a prescribed fire got In 2000, a prescribed fire got

out of control in Cerro Grande, out of control in Cerro Grande, New MexicoNew Mexico

Burn done by National Park Burn done by National Park ServiceService

Fire burned 20,000 acresFire burned 20,000 acres

Hundreds of homes were Hundreds of homes were destroyed destroyed

Source: Source: Burning Questions: America’s Fight with Burning Questions: America’s Fight with Nature’s FireNature’s Fire, David Carle, David Carlehttp://www.efcog.orghttp://www.efcog.org

Whole-Tree HarvestingWhole-Tree Harvesting

BenefitsBenefits Effectively clears hazardous fuelsEffectively clears hazardous fuels SelectivitySelectivity Not weather dependentNot weather dependent

CostCost Some soil nutrients lost in processSome soil nutrients lost in process

Struggling Timber IndustryStruggling Timber Industry

Suffered losses beginning in 1970s because of high Suffered losses beginning in 1970s because of high interest ratesinterest rates

1990: Northern Spotted Owl put on Endangered 1990: Northern Spotted Owl put on Endangered Species listSpecies list Typical habitat for Northern Spotted Owls is old-growth Typical habitat for Northern Spotted Owls is old-growth

forestsforests Moratorium put on old-growth harvestingMoratorium put on old-growth harvesting 2.3 million acres of old-growth forests in Northwest2.3 million acres of old-growth forests in Northwest

Source: Source: More Tree Talk: The People, Politics, and Economics of TimberMore Tree Talk: The People, Politics, and Economics of Timber , Ray Rapael, Ray Rapael

Community EffectsCommunity Effects

No property taxes paid on Federal wildlandNo property taxes paid on Federal wildland

When U.S. Forest Service puts land up for bid, When U.S. Forest Service puts land up for bid, roughly 25% payment goes to local roughly 25% payment goes to local community to make up for losscommunity to make up for loss

Projects have been in decline since 1970sProjects have been in decline since 1970s

ProposalProposal

Replace prescribed fire with whole-tree harvestingReplace prescribed fire with whole-tree harvesting Contract private companies to complete projectsContract private companies to complete projects Use fuels in cogeneration plantsUse fuels in cogeneration plants

Reallocate funds to build cogeneration plants in NorthwestReallocate funds to build cogeneration plants in Northwest Cogeneration plants create 25-30 megawatts of power to Cogeneration plants create 25-30 megawatts of power to

run millsrun mills Excess power sold to power companiesExcess power sold to power companies

Projects done in shorter time-frameProjects done in shorter time-frame Projects done on a larger scaleProjects done on a larger scale

ConclusionConclusion

Prevention is safer and more cost-effective Prevention is safer and more cost-effective than rehabilitationthan rehabilitation

Whole-tree harvesting is the best solution to Whole-tree harvesting is the best solution to hazardous fuels reductionhazardous fuels reduction Environmentally friendly solutionEnvironmentally friendly solution Lowest risk to bystandersLowest risk to bystanders

Reduce preventable deaths resulting from Reduce preventable deaths resulting from wildfireswildfires

Benefits struggling timber communitiesBenefits struggling timber communities