 |
| Wilson Pushes for Better Forest Protection |
January 29, 2003 |
| |
Puts Support Behind Bill that Treats Forests to Reduce Fire Risk
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Heather Wilson today cosponsored a bill applying forest-restoration treatments to protect Western forests from catastrophic wildfires. The "Southwest Forest Health and Wildfire Prevention Act of 2003," authorizes $15 million for the establishment of ecological restoration institutes in Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. The institutes would work with land managers, environmental scientists, and local governments to implement forest-protection treatments, such as thinning and controlled burnings, to reduce the number of wildfire outbreaks and lessen their severity should fires break out.
"New Mexico cannot afford another catastrophic fire season," said Wilson. "The federal government must give a higher priority to preventive efforts that will reduce the risk of uncontrollable wildfires. This bipartisan legislation is a step in that direction."
The legislation builds on the National Fire Plan of 2000, which directed federal agencies to shift wildland fire policy from suppression to prevention. Noting that federal agencies still spend 75 percent of federal dollars on suppression, the new bill would require that federal agencies devote more money and resources to preventive treatments.
### |
|
|
|