Forest management is the responsible choice

Letter to the Editor:

Lightning-ignited wildfire has been a major force in the evolution of our native forests. Today we face an increased threat of human caused fire in addition to a changing climate with shorter snow cover periods and longer summer wildfire conditions.  

In response to these well-known facts, forest managers endeavor to encourage establishment and growth of fire resistant tree species, maintain desirable tree density and reduce forest fuel developments.

The public supports these attempts to control wildfires on public land.  

In wilderness areas lightning-caused fires are sometimes managed as prescribed fires, and this practice is gaining wider acceptance. Stand management on other forestland often attempts to mimic natural fire through timber harvests, thinning, and other silvicultural activities, all in an attempt to maintain healthy and well-cared-for, intensively managed forests while providing the desired mix of uses and values.

Wilderness designation of additional forestlands or designation of other limited or no treatment type areas would preclude, or greatly inhibit, silvicultural treatments within these forests. Yet in the face of predicted hotter, drier summers newly developed forest plans have recommended increased wilderness as well as more limited management areas.  This new wildland management direction appears to deny the threat of escaped wildfire that could spread into managed forests and inhabited areas.

Given due respect to the expected hotter, drier, future forest conditions described above, intensive forest management is the safest, most responsible choice.

— Roger Lund,

Paradise