Friday, March 15, 2013

Forest and Fire Groups Request Senate Matches House Investment in 2013 Fire Management

A collection of forest and fire groups are requesting the Senate match the House’s investment in fire management for 2013, as reflected in the House’s Continuing Resolution (HR 933) passed last week. Funding for the FLAME wildfire suppression reserve funds and the Wildland Fire Management program, which fight fires and performs forest treatments to reduce the risk of megafires, will help cover a fire season as bad as last year.  Last year was the third worst fire season since 1960, and the USDA Forest Service ran out of money to fight fires in September. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has already predicted current drought conditions will continue through May of this year.  Today’s letters into House and Senate Appropriators were endorsed by the following organizations:

American Forest Foundation
National Association of Forest Service Retirees
American Forests
Federal Forest Resource Coalition
National Association of State Foresters
Society of American Foresters
The Nature Conservancy

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