Dear Editor,
The smoke-filled, unhealthy air quality last summer reminded us all again how wildfires out West and in Canada still affect us here in Vermont.
Beyond our exposure to smoke and particulate matter, the massive amounts of carbon dioxide released further stoke global warming and increase the likelihood of more wildfires.
Risk of severe forest fires centers on the density and dryness of the trees, shrubs, grasses and forest debris that act as fuel.
While we value trees for their carbon storage capacities, too high a level of tree density makes them compete for resources—such as water, sunlight and nutrients—rendering them weaker and creating more debris, which provides a continuous bed of highly flammable elements in the forest.
Controlled burns and responsible forest thinning can decrease excessive fuel as well as increase resilience to extreme drought. The U.S. Forest Service estimates some 80 million acres need restoration management, but it is only conducting controlled burns on about 2 million acres annually.
One big reason for such slow progress is that the permitting processes are unduly cumbersome, adding years to the implementation of mitigation plans.
The revised Fix Our Forests Act (FOFA), currently under consideration in Congress, removes bureaucratic permitting roadblocks that slow wildfire mitigation projects, while also protecting endangered species.
In a rare bipartisan effort, the Senate has voted it out of committee. We urge you to contact Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., telling them we need this legislation to help protect us from smoke and particulate-filled air.
Bob Warrington, Burlington, Vt.
