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Administration's
Healthy Forests Initiative |
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On August 22, President Bush announced a new
initiative that calls for more active forest
management of public lands to reduce the risk
of extreme wildfires. The Healthy Forests Initiative
proposes to implement the National Fire Plan's
10-year Comprehensive Strategy and Implementation
Plan. Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton
and Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman delivered
the legislative proposal to Congress on September
5 during a hearing of the House Resources Forests
Subcommittee. The legislative proposal would:
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Authorize agencies to enter
into long-term stewardship contracts with
the private sector, non-profit organizations,
and local communities.
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Expedite implementation
of fuels reduction and forest restoration
projects, particularly in high priority areas.
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Ensure that judges consider
long-term risks of harm to people, property
and the environment in challenges based on
short-term risks of forest health projects.
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Reform procedural requirements
on Forest Service appeals that are inconsistent
with pre-existing requirements of law.
In May, the CSF signed onto a letter with thirty
other conservation organizations urging the
President to adopt a science-based forest stewardship
approach, including commercial timber harvest
and prescribed fire, to insure healthy, diverse
forest landscapes that are critical to wildlife.
A forest system that includes a combination
of young and mature ecosystems is ideal for
wildlife and also helps to control the spread
of wildfires.
Click
here to review information about the Healthy
Forests Initiative on the White House's website.
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