Preventing Catastrophic
Fires |
Our nation's forests and rangelands
are at risk. An estimated 190 million acres of federal forests
and rangelands in the U.S., an area twice the size of California,
face high risk of catastrophic fire. Years of natural fuels
buildup, coupled with drought, insect and disease damage make
our forests vulnerable to environmentally destructive fires.
Many ponderosa pine forests are 15 times denser than they were
a century ago. Where 25 to 35 trees once grew per acre, now
more than 500 trees are crowded together in unhealthy conditions.
|
In 2000, the United States suffered
its worst wildland fires in 50 years. Last year's fire season
- among the worst in the last 40 years - saw 88,458 fires burn
7.2 million acres, an area larger than Maryland and Rhode Island
combined. Three states - Oregon, Colorado and Arizona - had
their worst fires in history in 2002.
|
The Bush Administration - through
the Department of the Interior agencies and the Forest Service,
is responding to this challenge by proposing record levels of
funding for firefighting (up 55 percent from 2000), hiring additional
fire fighters, purchasing additional equipment, accomplishing
record levels of fuels treatment (this year's estimated 2.8
million acres being treated is up 1.6 million acres since 2000)
and by advancing its Healthy Forests initiative (including administrative
reforms and proposed legislation) is a long-term solution.
|
For more information visit: |
DOI Healthy Forests
Initiative Site |
News Releases on Catastrophic Fire |
08/11/2003 |
President
Bush Promotes Healthy Forests |
06/23/2003 |
A
Record of Success: Meeting On-the-Ground Challenges With On-the-Ground
Solutions |