The United States continues to face a growing wildfire crisis, with communities in wildfire-prone areas like Los Angeles County experiencing destruction on an unprecedented scale.
The 2023 wildfire season has already highlighted the urgent need for better forest management practices. In response, Congress has taken an important step by passing the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act, aimed at addressing the root causes of these catastrophic fires.
Hannah Downey, a wildfire policy advocate and policy director at the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC), shares her firsthand experiences with wildfires and emphasizes the need for bold, proactive forest management reforms.
Understanding the Root Causes of Wildfires
The Forest Health Crisis
While factors such as climate change, drought, and landscape topography exacerbate wildfires, Downey argues that the declining health of America’s forests is the primary driver. Poor forest management, decades of fire suppression, and lack of maintenance have left an estimated 80 million acres of forests overgrown with trees, shrubs, and other fuels.
- Unhealthy Forests: Overgrown forests are not only highly flammable but also provide poor wildlife habitats, jeopardize watersheds, and are more vulnerable to pests and disease.
- Diminished Resilience: These forests are less capable of adapting to drought and climate change, creating a dangerous feedback loop.
Solutions: Proactive Forest Management
Proven Strategies to Reduce Wildfire Risk
Downey highlights tools such as mechanical thinning and prescribed burns as highly effective methods for reducing fuel buildup and restoring forest ecosystems.
- Scientific Backing: A meta-analysis published in Forest Ecology and Management shows that combining thinning with prescribed burns reduces wildfire severity by 62 to 72 percent across various forest types and weather conditions.
- Case Study – Oregon’s Bootleg Fire (2021): In areas treated with these methods, fire intensity was reduced, leaving tree crowns intact and turning destructive wildfires into more manageable ground fires.
Barriers to Implementation
Red Tape and Legal Challenges
Despite the proven effectiveness of proactive forest management, regulatory hurdles and litigation often delay critical restoration projects.
- Permitting Delays: Research from PERC indicates that federal permitting and lawsuits can delay forest projects by 5 to 9 years.
- The Cottonwood Decision: A controversial court ruling requiring duplicative environmental analyses has become a significant roadblock, preventing timely action.
- Impact Example: A forest restoration project in Montana designed to protect a community watershed was delayed for over 15 years due to legal battles.
The Fix Our Forests Act: A Step Forward
What the Act Does
The bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act, co-sponsored by Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) and Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR), seeks to streamline forest restoration and wildfire prevention efforts. Key provisions include:
- Reducing Red Tape: Eliminates unnecessary bureaucratic delays to expedite forest restoration projects.
- Promoting Partnerships: Encourages collaboration among federal agencies, states, and private partners to scale up restoration efforts.
- Deterring Frivolous Lawsuits: Reduces the legal challenges that unnecessarily stall critical work.
Broad Bipartisan Support
The legislation passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support, signaling a strong commitment to addressing the wildfire crisis. Downey urges the Senate and President Donald Trump to act quickly to enact the bill into law.
Why Action Is Urgent
The Stakes Are High
The cost of inaction is devastating:
- Human Impact: Communities face the constant threat of displacement, loss of homes, and compromised water supplies.
- Environmental Consequences: Unhealthy forests lead to worsened air quality, reduced biodiversity, and degraded watersheds.
- Economic Burden: Wildfires cost billions in firefighting efforts, property damage, and long-term ecological recovery.
The wildfire crisis will not solve itself, but solutions are within reach. By prioritizing proactive forest management and reducing bureaucratic and legal obstacles, the United States can protect communities, restore forest ecosystems, and reduce the devastating impact of wildfires. The passage of the Fix Our Forests Act marks a pivotal step forward, offering hope for a future where forests are healthier, and wildfires are less catastrophic.
As Hannah Downey notes, it’s time to move beyond the constant threat of wildfires and embrace a future where we can enjoy our forests safely and sustainably.
