Today, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) issued the following statement praising President Donald Trump’s executive order promoting active management to reduce wildfire risk on forests and public land:

“For years, wildfires have devastated vast areas of the United States. 2018 ranks among the worst fire years on record. While litigation activists thwarted forest management reforms, the Senate also failed to pass legislation to help minimize forest fires. As a result, parts of the West were left in ashes. We cannot ignore these systemic issues any longer. President Trump’s action gives federal land management agencies additional tools to rehabilitate our overgrown and fire-prone forests and public lands and is an important first step. However, this issue will only be fixed through congressional action. The House and Senate must work to implement statutes that protect our environment and the many communities across the country who live every day with the threat of wildfire.” 

Background:

For decades, dense trees and undergrowth have accumulated in America’s forests and rangelands. Insect infestation, invasive species, disease, and drought conditions have weakened our forests, rangeland, and other public lands, and have placed more than 70,000 communities and 46 million homes at risk. To date this year, more than 8.5 million acres have been consumed by wildfire — more than 2 million acres above the 10 year average.

In collaboration with federal, state, tribal and local partners, Department of the Interior (DOI) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will develop a strategy to help inform wildland fire management, protect habitat and communities, reduce physical infrastructure risk, and promote effective decision making.

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