While we can't control the weather, we can and do have dramatic impacts on our climate and environment. New science is showing that it is possible to attract water back into our landscapes and get ahead of catastrophic wildfires. When it comes to managing our lands and mitigating the impacts of weather, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
When it comes to solutions to the situation we find ourselves in, with regards to wildfire, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Upfront fire mitigation measures cost an average of ⅕ of fire fighting and clean up. By proactively engaging with and managing our landscapes we can reduce the severity of fires, lessening their impacts on wildlife, forests and human health. Managed fires burn cooler and their smoke is less impactful on human health. Strategic, and careful thinning can help reduce fuel loads as can grazing in some already distributed areas. Keeping livestock out of sensitive alpine landscapes can also help keep moisture levels higher in these reducing their risk of burning.
Grounded 2019 Summit: The Era of Megafires USDA Forest Service Dr. Paul Hessburg
Effectiveness of Forest Management in Reducting Wildfire Risk,Climate Change Impacts in the United States: The Third National Climate Assessment
Solutions to the Rising Costs of Fighting Fires in the Wildland-Urban Interface
Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network
