§6701 Findings

Summary

Congress says wildfires are a growing danger to millions of acres of forests and rangelands. Many forests are damaged by past land management and by not removing extra trees that used to let small, low-intensity fires burn. At least 39,000,000 acres of National Forest in the interior West are at high risk. From fiscal years 1990 through 1994, the Forest Service spent 95 percent of its wildfire suppression money fighting fires in the interior West. Fires there are getting bigger and worse. In Arizona and New Mexico, 59 percent and 56 percent of National Forest timberland, respectively, have trees averaging 9 to 12 inches in diameter at breast height. The interior West population grew twice as fast as the U.S. average in the 1990s. Catastrophic fires threaten homes, watersheds, soils, and endangered species. A 1994 health check said only a 15- to 30-year chance remained to act, and 8 years had already passed. Healthy forests lower wildfire risk, help wildlife, boost plant growth, protect water, and support sustainable uses. Preventing severe fires and allowing natural low-intensity fires means cutting excess fuels and thinning smaller trees—materials that may have commercial value. Restoring forests across whole landscapes will improve community protection, reduce suppression and rehab costs, protect habitat, and keep forests healthy for the future. But science about large-scale treatments is limited, so clear, useful research is needed for designing, monitoring, environmental review, and collaboration.