California must burn more of its forests to save them. Is the public ready?
Even as research touted the benefits of prescribed fire more than a half-century ago, the practice was long held back by misguided forest management policies, a legacy of injustice toward Native Americans and a more nebulous, deep-seated cultural resistance to flames and smoke. Finally, the tide is turning — slowly. California took a huge step forward this year when it reached a landmark deal with the federal government to reduce fire risk on 1 million acres of forest and wildlands annually, including through prescribed fire.
Related article:
- Knowable Magazine: How to rebuild California forests, with climate in mind
- Bay Nature: Reading the Landscape for Fire