Playing with Fire Forest Management in America Megan West Topics in Political Theory Spring 2005.
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Transcript of Playing with Fire Forest Management in America Megan West Topics in Political Theory Spring 2005.
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