Baxter Black - Forests need the natural cycle of fire

The Mountain West, as pictured by the European immigrants in the days of Lewis and Clark, was covered with immense healthy forests that had recycled themselves naturally for centuries. They grew from seeds, matured, reproduced, died, burned and prepared the land for a fresh seeding. Fire was not the enemy.

Explorers first saw the forests holding their place in the natural biosystem. Settlers came and built forts and fences, houses and dams, cities and freeways. Forests were harvested for fuel and construction. They were cleared so man could build on the ground.

In the latter part of the 19th century, forests were allowed to recycle. During the early 20th century, timber companies and government agencies began to replant clear-cut forests to sustain timbering.

Then mid-century came the conservationists, politicians, environmentalists and tree huggers. They took the stand that thinning, clear-cutting, grazing, hunting, water tanks, roads and settlers just harmed the forest. So they instigated restrictions.

They chose forest fire as the enemy. Smokey the Bear told them so. So for the next 50 years of forest management, they fought forest fires. This encouraged people to build homes in the tall pines.

Any attempt to utilize the crowning, crowded timber or deadfall as a private industry resource was scorned. The trees kept growing and seeding, seeding, shedding, dying and falling on the forest floor.

Today, forest fires consume twice as much land each year as they did in 1970. The burn season today is two and a half months longer than it was in 1970. Nature is taking it back until every acre of pine trees is recycled in the inferno.

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