Legislative Information - Protecting Our Nation's Endangered Forests

Protecting Our Nation's Endangered Forests

Our nation's forests are in grave danger. Currently, more than 57 million acres of federal land are at the highest risk of catastrophic fire, including 8.5 million in California. Californians saw how devastating fires can be in the fall of 2003 when wildfires swept through Southern California, consuming almost 740,000 acres of land, killing 23 people, and destroying more than 3,500 residences and 1,100 other structures.

The 2003 fires demonstrated how critical it is that forests and nearby communities be protected. Responding to this crisis, Congress passed and the President signed the Healthy Forests Restoration Act, sponsored by Senator Feinstein and 9 other Senators. The Act will protect forests from catastrophic fire by expediting the thinning of hazardous fuels and at the same time provide the first legal protection for old-growth tress in our nation's history.

The Healthy Forests Restoration Act will reduce the risk of wildfires by:

Expediting the hazardous fuels reduction program in 20 million acres of land at the highest risk of catastrophic fire and authorizing $760 million annually for the removal of hazardous fuels.
Protecting old-growth forests by updating forest plans with old-growth protection areas, prohibiting the logging of fire-resistant trees, and authorizing local forest managers to write specific prescriptions for their forests.
Making the administrative review process more collaborative and ensuring a fair judicial review process.
Giving communities the option of preparing community wildfire protection plans.

To learn more about the Healthy Forests legislation, please view the booklet- Protecting Our Nation's Endangered Forests (PDF)

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