A Campaign for Forest Management

FUEL FOR THOUGHT

• Forest Density has Increased 30% Since 1953 • Forest Mortality at a 50 Year High • 73.5% of NFS Lands Need Restoration (15 million acres!) • 85% of Annual Forest Mortality is on NFS Lands

“High Forest Mortality and Low Timber Removal Rates in the Western States Promise Hazardous Fuel Accumulations and Big Fires ”

U of I Policy Analysis Group

Wildfires in U.S., Acres Burned and Number of Fires, 1960-2009

Acres Burned Number of Fires 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1960-64 66-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 85-89 90-94 95 -99 2000-04 05-09 80 60 40 20 0 200 180 160 140 120 100 Annual Average During Period

1,750,000 ACRES BURNED IN IDAHO IN 2012

Over 90% was on Federally Managed Lands

PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR ACTIVE FOREST MANAGEMENT

Thinning and Harvesting Trees Helps to Reduce the Risk of Wildfires

“Please tell me which one of the following statements most accurately describes your view about forest management and wildfires.

Thinning and harvesting trees helps to reduce the risk of wildfires, so we should manage our forests in order to minimize the impacts OR Wildfires are a natural part of the ecosystem, so we should leave forests alone and let them burn when fires start unless homes, buildings and communities or people are endangered.” (Q29)

100% 80% 79% 70% 72% May 2004 Nov. 2007 June 2010 60% 40% 25% 22% 15% 20% 0% Thinning and harvesting trees helps 5% 5% Don't know 6% Wildfires are natural

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“Loss of Wildlife Habitat” Remains the Leading Concern about Wildfires

“What are you most concerned about when you consider the consequences of wildfires?” (Q28)

Loss of wildlife habitat Damage to watersheds and water quality Loss of homes and property Loss of forests and wood products Loss of scenic opportunities or recreation opportunities Smoke into the atmosphere 0% 0% 34% 32% 31% 8% 7% 7% 6% 6% 7% 18% 17% 22% 16% 16% 23% 13% 14% 10% 20% 30% June 2010 Nov. 2007 May 2004

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40%

The Cost of Wildfire

•

TAX DOLLARS Federal Firefighting Costs (Suppression Only): $1,740,934,000 in 2013 and $1,902,446,000 in 2014 Taxpayers spent $164.3 million in 2013 and $214 million dollars in 2012 fighting wildfires fighting wildfires in Idaho

alone.

•

HUMAN HEALTH & SAFETY In an active fire year, wildfires in Idaho emit the same amount of carbon dioxide into the air we breathe as 4.7 million cars

Target Your Efforts

Idaho Forest Products Commission www.idahoforests.org

Betty Munis [email protected]