Federal forestry cuts fuel wildfire, resource concerns
As wildfire conditions across California are expected to increase steadily through the summer, state officials this month expressed concerns about cuts in staff and funding at federal agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, a division within the Agriculture Department that partners with the state to fight wildfires and manage forests. California is home to 18 national forests, with 48% of its land owned and managed by the federal government. “On critical priorities like wildfire, safety and water supplies, federal agency effectiveness is critical,” California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot said during a webinar in which he and other state officials discussed potential impacts of federal staffing reductions to the state’s natural resources, including forests.
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