New plan released by state, federal and county heads will make forests more resilient to wildfire (12/7/06)
New plan released by state, federal and Diverse coalition of stakeholders develop ambitious plan to prevent wildfires, thin forests, restore lands and aid communities. Embargoed for Release On hand for the announcement were Gov. Mike Rounds (S.D.), WGA Chair; Gov. Dave Freudenthal (Wyo.), WGA Vice Chair; Under Secretary of Agriculture Mark Rey; and Kathleen Clarke, Director of the Bureau of Land Management for the Department of the Interior. The new implementation plan builds upon a 10-Year Comprehensive Strategy agreed to in 2001 that set ambitious goals to prevent and suppress wildland fires, thin forests to reduce hazardous fuels, restore ecosystems, and assist communities in protecting themselves and in developing their forest-based economies. A wide range of stakeholders, including WGA's Forest Health Advisory Committee, helped develop the original strategy and new implementation plan. Gov. Rounds noted that the West and the nation have come a long way over the past six years in understanding the dangerous conditions that were created in our forests after a century of fire suppression. But much more remains to be done, a fact accentuated by the tragic deaths of 23 firefighters this fire season. This plan reemphasizes the importance of collaboration in our effort to make our forests more resilient to wildfire by reducing hazardous fuels, Rounds said. In addition to healthier forests, we plan to provide greater safety to nearby communities and the firefighters protecting those communities. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, commenting on the plan said, "We've really opened productive channels of communication with all our partners and accomplished a great deal. With a record 9.4 million acres burned in 2006, we are reminded that we have more work to do together. The updated 10-Year Strategy reinforces our goals and updates the tasks to reflect the current environmental and social challenges. Gov. Janet Napolitano of Arizona, who serves as WGA's co-lead for forest health, was unable to attend today's meeting, but praised the latest effort I'm pleased that governors and the federal agencies incorporated the expertise and perspectives of all stakeholders who care deeply about the health of our nation's forests, Napolitano said. The individuals on WGA's Forest Health Advisory Committee represent small communities, environmental organizations, industry and government. They all played a role in developing this plan, and they will all play an integral role in ensuring its effective implementation. Deputy Secretary of the Interior, Lynn Scarlett, who chaired the Wildland Fire Leadership Council in 2003-2004 and helped craft the new plan, praised the collaborative effort to update the plan. The revised plan provides goals and measures so that we can track our progress in improving forest health and reducing risks to communities, said Deputy Secretary Scarlett. Forest and rangeland health depend upon science, collaboration and a clear roadmap. This plan brings all these elements together. National Association of Counties' President Colleen Landkamer, Commissioner, Blue Earth County, Minn., said, County officials across the country look forward to working with our state and federal partners to further reduce the risk of wildland fire. We are particularly pleased with the emphasis on finding locally driven, collaborative solutions to the continuing challenges our communities face. "The 10-year Strategy has given government, industry, communities and interest groups a framework under which we are getting work done on the ground in a collaborative fashion rather than spending time in a courtroom, Altemus said. We can clearly make more progress, and this new plan, with its emphasis on collaboration and the need to reduce hazardous biomass from the landscape, is welcomed." Laura McCarthy, Western Fire and Forest Restoration Program Director for The Nature Conservancy, also participated in developing the plan. "Altered fire regimes -- too much, too little, or the wrong kind of fire -- are one of the greatest threats to the West's plants, animals and local communities, McCarthy said. "This plan helps address that threat by encouraging new and better science to guide the restoration of overgrown forests and burned lands across the West." The plan A Collaborative Approach for Reducing Wildland Fire Risks to Communities and the Environment: 10-Year Comprehensive Strategy Implementation Plan and a letter to Congress from the Governors, Counties and Secretaries can be found on the Web at: www.westgov.org. The Western Governors' Association is an independent, nonprofit organization representing the governors of 19 states and three U.S.-Flag islands in the Pacific. Through their Association, the Western governors identify and address key policy and governance issues in natural resources, the environment, human services, economic development, international relations and public management. # # # # #
county heads will make forests more resilient to wildfire
1 p.m. (PST)
December 7, 2006
Contact:
Lori Faeth, Office of Governor Napolitano, 602-542-1334
Jim Caswell, Office of Governor Risch, 208-334-2189
Paul Orbuch, Western Governors' Association, 303-623-9378
Jennifer Plyler, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 202-205-1777
Shane Wolfe, Department of the Interior, 202-208-6416
Paul Beddoe, National Association of Counties, 202-942-4234
Mike Long, National Association of State Foresters, 850-488-4274
Henderson, Nev. A new implementation plan designed to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risks nationwide was endorsed today by the Western Governors' Association, U.S. Departments of Agriculture and the Interior, National Association of Counties and National Association of State Foresters.
Julia Altemus, Resource Specialist for the Montana Logging Association, was a stakeholder that participated in the consensus-based process.