Breaking our forests

The Fix Our Forests Act (HR 471) if passed will not fight wildfires or fix our forests despite the cheery title of this dangerous act. The act prioritizes logging interests over proven community protections like defensible space and emergency planning. It bypasses critical environmental laws and restricts scientific input and public engagement, potentially harming the environment and endangered species.

This bill, claiming to reduce wildfires, may worsen them by allowing profit-driven decisions that lead to more clearcutting, which has been proven to exacerbate wildfires and remove trees that are a lifeline in our fight against climate change.

Unlike the scientifically based Community Protection and Wildfire Resilience Act, FOFA focuses on federal lands and forests, while the L.A. fires originated on private lands and are chaparral/urban fires exacerbated by climate change-induced drought.

HR 471 passed the House and is heading to the Senate. Please contact Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and urge them to vote against this dangerous legislation.

– Louise van Vonno, Durango