Healthy Forests Restoration Act Protects Lands from Fire, Disease

Approval of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act by the House Resources Committee is a positive step, according to officials of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC).  The organizations believe the health of forest ecosystems and wildlife habitat along with the safety of America’s communities and adjacent private lands will be enhanced with passage of this measure.

“Catastrophic wildfires, disease and insect infestation are threatening public and private forestlands across the nation,” says Idaho cattle producer and NCBA President Eric Davis.  “We applaud President Bush for introducing his Healthy Forests Initiative, and commend Chairman Pombo for leading passage of this important legislation in the House Resources Committee yesterday.”

Under the leadership of Chairman Richard Pombo (R-CA), the House Resources Committee passed the Healthy Forests Restoration Act April 30 by a strong bi-partisan vote of 32-17. Pombo applauded Reps. Scott McInnis (R-CO) and Greg Walden (R-OR) for their hard work in developing the legislation, which has garnered nearly 100 cosponsors from 33 states.

“The Act empowers local land managers with the necessary tools to implement hazardous fuels reduction, thinning projects and invasive species control projects on federal forests and rangelands,” says Jeff Eisenberg, NCBA director of federal lands and PLC executive director.  “This legislation puts the needs of the land and the animals first, and rationalizes the procedures for protecting these valuable resources.”

Areas that will benefit include communities in the wild land urban interface, high-risk lands in the proximity of municipal water sources, high-risk lands that encompass habitat for threatened and endangered species where federal officials have identified catastrophic wildfire as a threat to the viability of the species, and high-risk landscapes particularly susceptible to disease or insect infestation.

NCBA and the PLC are working to gain full support in Congress.  “This is an initiative that protects the environment and vital rural communities.  This makes sense for everyone, and that is why it is being supported by industry, government and conservation groups alike,” says Eisenberg.  “We look forward to the President signing it into law soon.”