Environment & Energy

Talent and accumulated organizational memory will decline.

The USFS has unfortunately long been a political windsock.

The western forests are at risk and change because of climate change.

Live on a National Forest where large fires have occurred the last 6 years.

Fire camps are developed larger than the local scattered villages.

Have been in evacuation warnings several times and evacuation mandates once, Summer 2023 had fire crews from all over the USA stationed at the base of my driveway.

The process appears to spend money to react rather than prepare as the fires are manned by outside and many contractors. Rare dwellings and other improvements are protected are protected. The fires are steered into Wilderness and Roadless Areas. There are Fire Safe Councils and some development of fuel breaks and the like but on a small level and mostly to protect improvements and make political points. Local USFS staff and the USFS research branch have already been greatly reduced from the past.

Was a USFS employee from 69 to 85 and highly educated in forest science but resigned during Reagan. Same as it ever was on difference on the ground. Too much politics and people talking at cross purposes.