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Wildfires have always been part of our western landscape. However, America’s wildfire environment has changed. Our forests are denser and unhealthier and our climate is hotter and dryer. These factors have contributed to the increasing frequency of large fires and increasing costs. Forest fragmentation and the rapid expansion of the wildland-urban interface have also complicated managing the landscapes - and the wildfires that burn across them.
WGA worked with the Forest Service, Department of the Interior, states, tribes, counties and interested stakeholders to develop an historic comprehensive plan outlining long-term wildland fire management strategy for the West. The revised implementation plan was endorsed in December 2006 and it outlines specific goals, actions, and timeframes. The plan supports the 10-year Comprehensive Strategy endorsed by the WGA and the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture in August 2001. WGA actively works with its Forest Health Advisory Committee to help implement, monitor and oversee progress.
WGA, and a coalition of other interests, are encouraging full implementation of all goals in the 10-year Comprehensive Strategy and Implementation Plan. In order to ensure we direct adequate resources to forest health and wildfire, we must address the continuing problem of escalating wildfire suppression costs. To that end, WGA sent a letter to the President, Administration officials and Congressional Committees of jurisdiction on the need to find a way to pay for wildland fire suppression in a manner that assures the national resources are in place when needed and does not come at the expense of monies used for restoration and fuels reduction – the very programs that help prevent catastrophic wildland fire.
In March of 2008, this coalition expressed their support for the urgent need to improve state and community wildfire protection and called on Congress to support increased funding for the State Fire Assistance (SFA) program managed by the U.S. Forest Service on State Fire Assistance Funding in a joint coalition letter on the FY09 federal funding.
WGA has partnered with the Society of American Foresters, The National Association of Counties, the National Association of State Foresters and the Communities Committee of the 7th American Forest Congress to develop Preparing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan: A Handbook for Wildland-Urban Interface Communities. The process of developing a CWPP can help a community clarify and refine its priorities for the protection of life, property, and critical infrastructure in the wildland urban interface. Efforts are currently underway to update the handbook; an addendum is expected by the end of the 2008.
WGA has two co-lead Governors for this initiative; John Huntsman of Utah and Janet Napolitano of Arizona . Funding is provided by the U.S. Forest Service.
Resources
WGA partners with the Council of Western State Foresters to provide expertise and advice on forest and wildfire policy issues.
USDA Forest Service website database describing programs across the nation that are being implemented to reduce communities' risk from wildfire.
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