Posted on 04/11/2004 8:56:04 AM PDT by Bob J
“Hope is not a strategy,” stated Jim Paxon at the recent Forest Health conference Governor Janet Napolitano held in Prescott, Arizona.
Everyone across the West has been relying on this strategy of hope along with praying for rain. Unfortunately, progress in addressing forest health issues is proceeding in a tortuous manner.
More funds are spent on studies, plans, meetings and court cases than on actual forest restoration. Sandy Bahr representing the Sierra Club has been present at the Arizona State Capital this week to register her vote of opposition to a bill sponsored by Representative Cheryl Chase, (D) Kearney and Marilyn Jarrett, (R) Mesa. The bi-partisan bill addresses the need for private industry and offers real solutions to the current forest health crisis.
Governor Napolitano and Sandy Bahr insist that the focus should be on homeowner education, teaching the people who live near the forest how to live in harmony with Mother Nature. Environmentalists have proclaimed that they support forest thinning only in the wildland urban interface, the area within ½ mile of communities. The coming fires will demonstrate why this half-hearted approach will not solve forest problems.
Education is an important factor, but we must not neglect the uncomfortable issues that contribute to the problem. Progress in forest restoration has been delayed due to litigation filed by radical environmental groups and by inept government beauracracy. The most recent example is an attempt by the Sierra Club and two other groups to interfere with rehabilitation efforts near Heber, Arizona. April 6th they announced their intention to challenge the salvage sales once again.
The majority of the trees burned in the Rodeo Chediski fire are still standing; spring winds may change that as they start to become unstable. The areas become a danger zone for people and animals, and resemble giant pickup sticks. Large animals travel around the fallen trees to avoid the risk of injury or death.
Governor Napolitano briefly mentioned industries needed to utilize the wood products available in the over-grown forests. There is a tremendous opportunity to create jobs in rural Arizona but, “that is one thing I haven’t really thought through yet,” admitted Napolitano. She does plan to address the issue of FEMA denying her request for emergency funding to fight the bark beetle infestation.
Representative Rick Renzi stated in a press release, March 10,2004, “The “perfect storm” conditions of drought, negligence and legal obstruction prevented forest experts from properly managing our lands and allowed small diameter fuel loads to grow out of control. Today it has become evident that re-introducing a sustainable and ecologically sensible timber industry to rural Arizona is necessary to reduce forest fuels buildup and begin thinning operations.” He also stated, “Savannah Pacific has committed to moving to Flagstaff, and is in the process of constructing infrastructure and securing a supply of timber for their operation.” Plans are in the works for a stewardship contract that would guarantee resources for a business able to utilize the raw materials in the forests.!
In 2001, insects affected 53,795 acres in Arizona. In 2003 aerial surveys showed 1,750,719 acres suffering from the current “lack of action plan.” Actual thinning of trees, cutting and/or removing them will indeed make these communities more fire resistant. They need this buffer zone as the 2000-degree forest fires proceed towards them faster than people can run or drive as evidenced by other fires.
Environmentalists are misusing the city ordinances and zoning laws. This is not the answer to forest fires. They are a serious attack on private property rights and American freedom. They divert debate away from the serious conditions in the forest and focus on their political agenda.
“Let the woods be natural, dead trees provide habitat for woodpeckers and spotted owls,” state the environmentalists. Unfortunately old, dead trees, elk, deer and birds also burn when super-infernos roar through the country.
Citizens should be outraged and are offended by the implication of blame, based on their choice of a residence surrounded by forest. “The forest service and our government officials need to learn how to be good neighbors, they need to address the problems on the land they control, not shift the blame to the residents of these communities,” stated native Arizonan Bonnie Gibson who lost her home in the Rodeo Chedeski fire two years ago.
As the fire season heats up and more communities are threatened by fire, public awareness of the grave conditions in our forests is vital.
The author can be reached at hlphzarrived@earthlink.net .
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