Is Wildfire Policy in the United States Sustainable?

Authors: Steelman, Toddi A.; Burke, Caitlin A.

Source: Journal of Forestry, Volume 105, Number 2, March 2007 , pp. 67-72(6)

Publisher: Society of American Foresters

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $29.50 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

Beginning in 2000, wildfire policy in the United States shifted from focusing almost exclusively on suppression to embracing multiple goals, including hazardous fuels reduction, ecosystem restoration, and community assistance. Mutually reinforcing, these policy goals have the potential to result in an ecologically, socially, and economically sustainable wildfire policy that can mitigate the long-term risk of wildfires for human and ecological communities alike. Six years into this new policy, we evaluate the evidence to determine how well the multiple goals are being served. We conclude that suppression and hazardous fuels reduction receive greater attention and resources relative to ecosystem restoration and community assistance. This provides an incomplete solution to mitigating the long-term risk of wildfire, thereby running the risk of perpetuating it.

Keywords: wildfire policy; hazardous fuels reduction; suppression; ecosystem restoration; community assistance

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2007-03-01

More about this publication?