(Aozotorp) wrote in message
...


(Aozotorp) wrote in message
...
http://www.ti.org/fire.html

Regarding the article
The West Is Burning!
"New: The Thoreau Institute's comments on President Bush's "Healthy
Forests
Initiative": It will cost billions, but it won't stop fires..."
The Thoreau Institute

This is hogwash: " Unlike the Southeast,where most forests are
ecologically adapted to frequent, low-intensity fires,most forests of
the West are adapted to infrequent, high-intensity fires. The West has
always had big fires and it always will have them.

"Most" fires in the West are not adapted to infrequent, high-intensity
fires. MOST forests in the West are dry type with Ponderosa being the
largest species prevelant in the West. This species is certainly not
adapted to high intensity fires. Quite the contrary is true. It's why
the Ponderosa forests need thinning as part of a full fuel reduction
program. Drought intensifies the problem to be sure, and yes some of
our western forests are not only adapted to but dependant on high
intensity fires, but Ponderosa forests do not regenerate naturally
after a stand replacing fire. We need thinning to save the forests.
Aozotorpe knows this and should be more careful in perpetuating false
science.

Science???

Eco-Spammers can rarely back up what they post, believing it to be the
Gospel and graciously bestowing it on an unsuspecting and uneducated
(on forest management issues) American public. Maybe those
bigmouth/smallbrain "preservationists" will learn more about forests
when their favorite piece of wilderness is toasted by a wildfire which
started in areas outside of the famous "wildland urban interface". A
let-burn policy HAS been established in parts of our National Forests,
mainly to save money. I'd have to agree that USFS fire policies need
adjusting. I've seen many brand new 4x4 vehicles just hitting the
forest I'm working on. Most of them look like fire suppression rigs.
You'd think the Thoreau Institute would have dotted their i's and
crossed their t's. There seems to be a silly game of semantics and
misdirection in the use of the term "fire risk". "Healthy Forests"
certainly won't stop forest fires but, "Healthy Forests" WILL reduce
their intensities.

Larry, a true environmentalist



Hey Lad =The Thoreau Institute is your bread and butter! A right-wing think
tank wanting to maximize timber cutting and selling off of public assets so
that it is in private management - It is your big dream!