FFRC Statement on Forest Service Wildlife Strategy

FFRC Statement on Forest Service Wildfire Strategy: January 19, 2023: FFRC Executive Director Bill Imbergamo issued the following statement regarding USDA’s update on their 10-year Wildfire Strategy: 

“Today’s announcement is a welcome but overdue step to begin turning the tide on the forest health and wildfire crisis on our National Forests. President Biden signed the Infrastructure Law more than 14 months ago. It’s perplexing that it’s taken that long for USDA to tell the Forest Service to begin using the “emergency” authority enacted in that landmark bill. 

The forest products industry is a vital part of the Forest Service’s effort to restore forest health, reduce hazardous fuels, and protect communities. There are many, many more acres of National Forests that are overstocked, fire prone, and in need of restoration work. Timber harvest can help restore historic fire regimes on National Forests, while generating jobs for rural residents and wood products for the American people. 

Time is not on our side. The fire behavior witnessed on National Forests in recent years confirms that without major fuels reduction work, we could see many more acres of National Forests convert to brush fields, compromising watersheds, wildlife habitat, and emitting millions of tons of carbon. There is no time to lose in moving forward with this critical work.”