The US government will spend $930m on western forest-thinning activities to combat catastrophic wildfire seasons. Over the last decade, fires have destroyed roughly 300,000 square kilometers (115,000 sq miles) and 80,000 houses in 10 western states, where the cash will be used to remove trees and underbrush. “It’s not an issue of if these trees will burn,” US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack told reporters. “Crisis is here.” Such grants indicate a rising focus on wildfire mitigation efforts.
Wildfire is a normal and beneficial element of the ecosystem, but numerous variables have combined to generate wildfire seasons that have expanded in size and severity over the past few decades. Climate change-related drought and increasing heat have dried out trees and vegetation. Insect outbreaks have destroyed millions of trees, leaving forests full of dry kindling that fuels enormous fires. Another reason is outdated forest management methods that emphasize fire suppression. Many woods are overrun with flammable plant materials after decades of fire suppression. Firefighter organizations and scientists want more mitigation initiatives like the $930m will fund to solve that problem. However, such monies represent a tiny percentage of the more than $50bn the US Forest Service estimates would be needed to minimize wildfire risk over 200,000 sq km (80,000 sq miles) of public and private lands over the next 10 years. Other difficulties remain. Government organizations fighting wildfires have struggled to attract and retain staff due to poor pay and bigger, more violent fire seasons. Experts say organizations like the Forest Service need to hire more people to handle record-breaking flames. Despite a mild 2022 season, California has seen its five biggest wildfire since 2018. The August Complex fire in 2020 burned an unprecedented 404,700 hectares before being extinguished.
Vilsack warned that Republican lawmakers’ “draconian” budget cutbacks would hinder the government’s response. In January, Republicans seized control of the House. Vilsack stated, “One huge if.” “Congress needs a good partner.” Critics believe Thursday’s statement falls short of the nation’s wildfire mitigation and natural catastrophe avoidance requirements. “We are only scratching the surface,” said Headwaters Economics researcher Kimiko Barrett. “Risks are rising at unprecedented levels. You’re seeing neighborhoods destroyed.”
