Commentary: Wildfires Underline Need for Active Forest Management
From the California Farm Bureau Federation’s Ag Alert newspaper:
“Anyone driving from the Central Valley to the Sierra knows that this year’s fire season is in full swing. …
“Fire season reminds us that we all have a responsibility to create and maintain landscape-level forest fuel management. …
Managed forests provide many benefits for the environment, species and communities. …
“Healthy forests make more water accessible, because water is not being sucked out of the ground by overly dense trees. Watersheds are healthier and water quality improves because managed trees stabilize the soil and filter water runoff. Healthy forests also help maintain biodiversity across the landscape, as a variety of plants and animals are able to thrive.
“How healthy forest management is accomplished at the local level will look different in every community.”