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| Wilson Welcomes New Effort to Restore Healthy Forests |
December 05, 2003 |
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| Albuquerque, NM – Congresswoman Heather Wilson, joining Interior Secretary Gale Norton and members of Isleta Pueblo, today said that new land management and fuel reduction policies will help prevent the kind of wildfires that yearly threaten hundreds of thousands of acres throughout New Mexico and the West. The Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003, co-sponsored by Wilson, passed Congress this year in response to a growing national threat of wildfire. President Bush signed the bill Wednesday.
Wilson and Norton joined members of Isleta Pueblo, including Governor Alvino Lucero, and toured the area where the Pueblo has undertaken extensive measures to prevent wildfire in the area. Wilson and Norton said the legislation upholds environmental standards and works to reduce the threat of wildfires. As approved by Congress, the bill provides assistance grants to selected communities like Isleta Pueblo for the purpose of expanding best forest management practices and addressing watershed issues. According to Wilson, the idea of encouraging collaboration between local, state, and federal entities was one of the most important parts of the bill.
“Wildfire has devastated our forests and threatened our communities,” Wilson said. “Government must reduce the threat of wildfire.”
“I commend Congresswoman Wilson for her support of a strong bi-partisan proposal that provides us with more tools to do a better job in managing our public lands and reducing the threat of catastrophic wildfire to communities,” said Norton.
Catastrophic fires have ravaged forests in numerous western states over the past two years, including destruction in several parts of New Mexico. In June 2003, the Bosque fire raged through Albuquerque, threatening homes and forcing the evacuation of neighborhoods. Nationally, 147,049 fires have burned nearly 11 million acres, costing millions of dollars. The law signals a critical step in the effort to clean up America’s forests and prevent catastrophic wildfire.
Action items in the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003:
· Reduce dense undergrowth that fuels catastrophic fires through thinning and planned burns.
· Improve public involvement in the review process with earlier participation.
· Collaborate on selecting projects involving local, tribal, state, Federal and private entities.
· Focus projects on Federal lands that meet strict criteria for risk of wildfire damage to communities, water supply systems and the environment.
· Authorize the Healthy Forests Reserve Program, to protect, restore and enhance degraded forest ecosystems on private lands and promote the recovery of threatened and endangered species.
· Encourage biomass energy production through grants and assistance to local communities creating market incentives.
· Develop an accelerated program on certain Federal lands to combat insect infestations.
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